^ii^^^m ^^ wsmlk Wmu ^^^^^^^^r>r M ^^^.^ ^^^^^i^^^^MA ^^«i^-^^^^^^ Ifssto jfa^^o^g^ifgsM i^^^^^^'^il^V^M^^ ^^^^ ^j^<^^^^C^ ^^ BOYS' BOOK OF SPOBTB. •■THH SPRING IS IN THE AIR, AND IN THK RLOOD."-Old SONG. THE BOYS' BOOK OF SPOKTS AND OUTDOOE LIFE EDITED BY Maueice Tiio:^[psox NEW-YORK: THE CEXTURY CO. 1S8(3 Copyright, 1886. v.x The Cextuky Co. THE DE VINNE IRKSS. &v /7/ PREFACE. /T lias been the aim of the editor and the pnljJishers of this hook to r/ire to the hoys and the youth of America a volume fall of healthful amusement as well as of useful instruction. The story of '^Marvin and His Boy Hunters,'^ which opens the volume, has been prepared with the purpose of teachiny boys of proper aye how to carefully and successfully use the shot-gun. Old and intelliyent sportsmen will, of course,. see little that is new in the -manual ; but the beginner with the gun ivill find all the rules safe and valuable, and he can not too closely read and heed them ; — on the one hand, they will insure safety from accident, and, on the other, they will smooth the way to such success ((s intelligent and enlightened practice gives in any art. Boys long to hare guns, and this is not nnivise, j)rorided they be taught the danger that attends the use of such tveapons, and how to avoid it. The natural, healthful impulses and desires of boyhood and youth should be prudently respected. Wh((t a joy hovers in the sunshine, the open air, and over the fields and streams and woods, for our lusty, bright-eyed, tan-faced, nimble boys ! Let them go at seasonable times and for reasonable periods, to get the very best that Xaturc offers. All boys can not become successful naturalists, or explorers, or writers, or artists, or specialists in other lines, but all can reasonably enjoy and improve life; all cmi round out and mature character in the best lines. Believing in the maxim ^'A good boy makes a good man," the editor has tried to put into this book the helpful- ness of a cheerful sjyirit and the freshness and purity of an outdoor atmosphere, so that those who read may feel the influence of wind, and sun, and water, of woods and of birds. It is believed that there is not anything in the '" Boy.s' Book of Sports ^^ tending /// the slightest to favor a .lishers has been culled with all the care at command. Many of the papers hare appeared in "St. Xicholas,'^ hut some of them have never before been published. The book is offered to the hojjs of Amerira in perfect confidence that, no matter how old the boi/s, they will find much in it to cheer, amuse, and instruct them, and nothing to work them harm. 3fA URICE THOMPSON. Crawfonlsrillf. ImJ., Jitlij. 1886. \ -^ "" -%- ?5- >v- >- * ^ '^'" -f T -^ * "-^ TABLE or COXTEXTS. Introductory: The Benefits and Abuse of Outdoor Sports. . . . xii Marvin and His Boy Hunters Mnarhc Thompson . . 1 Chapter I. Considering the Question 1 II. Uncle Charley from Tennessee •"' III. Uncle Charley meets an old Friend 12 IV. Marvin, the Market-hunter 18 V. A Lesson in Woodcock Shooting- 23 VI. Hugh's First Bird 29 VII. Mr. Marvin talks about Market-hunting :]2 VIII. In the Prairie Weeds 38 IX. A new Prospect opens to the Boys 44 X. Away to the South 48 XI. Around a Camp-fire •')4 XII. Over the Mountain 59 XIII. Samson describes the Battle 03 XIV. Among the Quails 66 XV. Camp-chat 72 XVI. Neil Shoots Big Oame 76 XVII. Neil goes into a Den 82 XVIII. Neil and his Bear 86 X TABLE OF CONTENTS. Page. XIX. Getting ready for Florida 91 XX. Drifting along the Coast 95 XXI. Among the Florida Birds 100 XXII. A Sudden Departure 106 XXIII. Up the Caloosahatchee. A Panther 110 XXIV. The Pickets Driven In 117 XXV. Rules for Handling the (Inn in Wing-.shooting 122 XXVI. How Judge's Nose was Bitten 126 XXVII. Home Again 130 Hints on Tkap-shooting Maurice Thompson . 133 FISHING. Fly-fishing for Black Bass Maurice Tho))ij)soii . . 141 Fly-fishing for Troi:t Bipley Hitchcocl- . . . 149 A Royal Fish Biplei/ Hitchcoch . . . 159 Odd Modes of Fishing Daniel C. Beard ... 171 ARCHERY. The Bow and its Use Maurice Thompson . . 177 An Archer Among the Herons Maurice Thompson . . 189 lUJATS AND IU3ATING. S.ALVLL Boats: How to Rig and Sail Them . . Charles LedyariJ Xorton. 199 How TO Make a Boat Frederic G. Mather . . 211 How to Build a Catamaran W. L. Alden 215 Flat-boating for Boys Daniel V. Beard . . . 222 (]a:mp8 and campers. How TO Camp Out Danitl C. Beard . The School in the Woods - . . Maurice Thompson How TO Camp Out at the Beach Frank F. Clark . . The Boys' Paradise Flizahefh Jialch . . A Boys' Camp One of the Campers 233 241 246 TABLE OF COXTKXTS. . xi SAVIM.MIN(; \S\) W ALlviN( l'A!/ '^-^ Landing the 'Longe Frederick Ford .... 334 How Science Won the Game Geon/e B. M. Harrri/ . 339 Chapter I. The Conference 339 II. The Curves 341 III. The Game 345 Index 348 THE BENEFITS AXD THE ABUSE OF OUTDOOR SPOKTS. I T is fair to assume that liealtby boys grow up to be healthy men, in cases where, during their growth, they are given a reasonable opportunity for such mental and physical recreation as will keep the fountains of life clean and active. Every boy should be taught to fully understand the dignity of labor, and to comprehend the necessity of drudgery and patient, humble persistence in the pursuit of a worthy am- bition. But sports of an active, outdoor sort are so heartily craved and so keenly enjoyed by strong and wide-awake boys, that, aside from the mere question of health, it would seem harsh to deprive them of it, unless some sufficient reason could be offered for so doing. The play-ground, as it is often limited by well-meaning parents and teachers, is very unsatisfactory. Outdoor play should have a better purpose in it than sim- ply to kill time. There are but two ways to knowledge, — one is through the direct study of Nature; the other is through the study of Nature at second-hand, by means of l)ooks and teachers. These two ways should, as nearly as possible, be nuide one. Knowledge gained during the hours of recreation falls into the mind, as the dew falls into a fiowei-, by the grace of Nature. The young mind is so receptive and responsive that it needs only a little judicious directing and restraining in order to take in and assimilate a vast amount of the raw nuxterial of wisdom. The abuse of sport is like the abuse of wholesome food: it creates an unnat- ural appetite that leads to great harm. But, on tlie other hand, a reasonabU' indulgence in such outdoor recreations as are varied and properly exciting in their nature, stimulates and strengthens, like wholesome food judiciously tak»'n. It is not too much to say that outdoor exercise, especially where it extends to occasional excursions tln-ough fields and woods, assists in the formation of THE BENEFITS AND THE ABUSE OF OlIUOOU SJ'Oins. xiiL the liabit of close ()1)servati<»ii and a rori-.-ct iiiodr of t liiiikiii<;-. 'I'Ih- mere 1>ook-kii()wled learn to shoot. He was a tall, dark man with a long moustache and curly black hair, very kind and gentle in his manner, and exceedingly fond of boys, though he was a bachelor. Of course, he had a great deal to talk ..... w^..>,^. about with Mr. Burton before he could to say much to Neil and Hugh, who were longing to draw liim the subject nearest tlieir hearts. But Hugh, who was always in- be irrepressible, would manage now and then to slip in a word 6 BOYS' BOOK OF SPOBTS. or two about guus aud himtiug. Neil, who was older and steadier, wisely held his tougue. It was a moment of breathless interest when Mr. Burton, without any preliminaries whatever, suddenly said to his brother in the hearing of the boys : '' Charles, I have a gun question that I must settle for Neil and Hugh, and I want your advice." '' Well," said Uncle Charley, blandly, '' what is the nature of the question ?" ^' Are the boys large enough to be trusted with shot-guns ? Ought they to be allowed to have them ? " Mr. Burton put these questions with in- tense gravity of voice and manner. Uncle Charley looked at Neil and Hugh, and smil- ingly shook his head. '' Rather small, rather small," he promptly replied. Neil turned pale, and the tears actually sprang into Hugh's eyes. " That is just my opinion," said Mr. Bur- ton ; "■ I have been considering the matter for some days. The boys have been asking me to buy them guns. They promised to stand manfully by my decision, and I am glad that you, who know so much about guns and shooting, have helped to confirm me in my first impression." " The boys are rather small," said Uncle Charley, reflectively ; '' but I don't know, — they look like careful, sensible lads. How old are you, Neil ? " " I am past fifteen, sir," the boy replied, with a touch of pride in his tone. "And I 'm thirteen, going on fourteen," cried Hugh. A tender, sympathetic light had come into Uncle Charley's face. He fully appreciated the hopes and fears of his young kinsmen. He himself had all the feelings of a grown-up boy. "Suppose we sleep over this question," he said to IMr. Burton, "and possibly we may see through it more clearly in the morning." By this time, Hugh's heart was jumping and thumping so, that he was sure Uncle Charley would hear it. As for Neil, he gave Uncle Charley a grateful look, which was perfectly understood. That night, the boys lay in their bed aud talked over the probabilities. The boys are rather small," said Uncle Charley. MARVIN AND HIS BOY HUNTERS. 7 " Oh, I 'in sure wc '11 oys had to go to bed again without any further information. '' They have gone and forgotten all about it," grumbled Hugh. *' It 's just like men ; they don't think a boy is worth noticing." " It does look as if we are in for a little disappointment," said Neil ; " but there 's no way of helping it that I see. We '11 just have to wait and be con- tented with what we have." " But I can't be contented, and it 's no use trying," cried Hugh. '^ It does seem too bad for anything." "I guess father had made up his mind sound and solid l)efore Uncle Charley came," said Neil, '' and so the matter will be dropped right where it is." " Why, I thought I could almost feel a gun in my hands when Uncle Charley said to papa, 'Suppose we sleep over this question.' I w^as perfectly sure it was all right then; were n't you, Neil?'' queried Hugh. So two or three days passed by, until at last, one morning. Uncle Charley had everything ready to go to the prairie to hunt prairie-chickens. Then, all of a sudden, he said to Neil, as if the thought had just occurred to him: " How would you and Hugh like to go along with me?" Hugh jumped as if something had stung him, and Neil was quite as much surprised. " I should like it ever so much," the latter replied. " But we have n't any guns," exclaimed Hugh. '^ Oh, well, you can watch me shoot, and you can carry game for me, and lid]) drive the wagon," said Uncle Charley, cheerfully. '"There'll be lots of fun besides shooting." Of course, the boys did not need a second invitation. Half a loaf was much better than no bread at all. If they could n't have guns of their own, they need not refuse to go and watch Uncle Charley shoot. Then the drive out to the prairie and a week spent in the open air would be jolly sport. Just how much fun two healthy, good-natured boys may get out of such an excursion can not be exactly measured. There is the sunshine, and there are the blue sky, the 8 BOYS' BOOK OF SPOBTS. grass like a green sea, the vast fields of corn, the cool wind, the freedom — it needs a boy to fully appreciate such things. Neil and Hugh forgot their disapjjointment in the matter of the guns, and entered joyfully into the spirit of the trip to the jirairie. Two wagons had been made ready : one, for the dogs and camp utensils, which was to be driven by a man who was also to serve as cook ; and one with springs, for Uncle Charley and the boys. When they started out of the village, many of their young friends looked wistfully after them, as if they, too, would like to be in the party. Neil and Hugh waved their hats and shouted good-bj^e as the wagons clattered over the graveled street past the village store and post-office. They were soon out in the open country, in a wide lane between green hedges, with fields on either hand, and farm-houses showing here and there among the orchards. It was mid- August and the sun shone fiercely ; but a breeze came off the prairie, cool and sweet, smelling of stubble and wild grass. The horses that di'ew the wagons were strong, well-fed animals, anxious to go; and Uncle Charley let them trot along briskly, for he, too, was chafing with every moment's delay. He had visions of large coveys of prairie-chickens in his mind, and, with all a Southern sportsman's enthusiasm, was longing to loose his dogs and handle his trusty gun. Uncle Charley's gun was a breech-loader of the finest English make, with beautiful Damascus steel barrels, engraved lock-plates, walnut stock, and re- bounding locks. Hugh took it in his hands, and was surprised to find how light it was. " Why, this gun would just suit me," he exclaimed, in surprise. ''I could handle it without any trouble, I'm sure. How much did it cost you, Uncle Charley ? " " Four hundred dollars," was the answer. " Whew ! " whistled Hugh, looking rather wildly at Neil. '' No wonder papa don't care to buy us guns ! It would take eight hundred dollars to get us one apiece ! " Uncle Charley smiled, all to himself, in a sort of mysterious Avay, as if he were thinking of something he did not desire to talk about. Meantime, the wagons clattered along the smooth road, the horses' feet raising a cloud of dust, which shone almost like gold in the early morning sunlight. The big wagon that held the dogs and camp things was beliind, and this cloud of dust sometimes nearly hid it from view, the man and the dogs looking, through the film, like those dim figures some artists put into the backgrounds of their sketches. As they passed along between the farins — those l)road, lil)eral, fertile farms of the West — they saw steam-threshing machines puffing away out in the fields, in the midst of stacks of wheat and rye, where men and boys were work- MABVIN AND HIS BOY HUNTERS. in^ hard in the flying chaff and tnmhling straw. The corn was in silk and tassel, and the meadows of timothy had been mowed, the hay-coeks standings thick on the g^reening stnbble. They saw meadow-larks flying about in the bright sunshine or standing in the tufts of clover, their breasts gleaming like polished brass. " Why is it against the law to shoot larks and robins ? " said Hugh ; '' I don't see why it 's any worse to kill them than it is to kill quails." " Why is it worse to kill a horse than it is to kill a pig?'' inquired Uncle Charley. "Because a pig's good to eat and a horse is n't," quickly answered Hugh. "Is n't there a better reason?" said Uncle Charley; "is n't a horse more useful to us as a servant than he would be for food, even if his flesh were delicious ? " " Certainly," said Hugh. " Well, a meadow-lai'k is a very useful bird to the farmer. It eats great numbers of insects, eggs, and larvae that would work great harm to Avheat, corn, and orchards ; then, its flesh is not very good ; while a <[uail eats grain, and its flesh is excellent food. Do vou see the difference ? " 10 BOYS' BOOK OF SPOUTS. ''That does seem reasonable," said Hugh; "I hadn't thought of it in that way. A meadow-lark is like a horse, it helps the farmer make his crop by destroying l)ugs and things ; and the quail is like a pig, it eats corn and wheat and gets fat, to be killed and eaten." Uncle Charley laughed. "I see you apply a theory in a very practical sort of way," he remarked. " But the law protects all kinds of harmless birds, the flesh of which is not profit- able for food," he continued, " out of fear of the influence J^ - that the mere wanton slaugh- ter of birds would have upon the morals of the people. If a boy is allowed to be cruel as he grows up, he ib likely to develop into a dan- gerous man. I think there is a great dif- ference between a moderate mdiil ^?5^ vktM. jSSi^ ^-^ ^f ao t\\o* V " '■r^ > p^-- ^ * >♦> went both barrels of Uncle Charley's gun."' gence in field-sports, and the abandonment of one's self to the brutal and indiscriminate slaughter of birds and animals." They had now reached the edge of the open prairie. As far as they could see, the land rolled away in dull, green billows. The grass was short on the swells and tall in the sloughs. Herds of cattle were scattered from near at hand to where they barely speckled the horizon. Uncle Charley gave Neil the lines. " You drive slowly along," he said, " while I work the dogs over some of this ground." Getting out of tlie wagon, gun in hand and cartridge-belt around liis waist, he motioned to the man to loose the dogs, — two beautiful wliiti^ and brown setters that knew just what he wanted them to do. Neil drove slowly along over the grass, for they had left the road, and ]u> and Hugh closely watched Uncle Charley, who was walking briskly after the galloping dogs. MAKVIX AXn HIS BOY HUNTEIiS. 11 *' Look at Don and Brit ! '' cried Iluirh. '' Did you ever see more l)eautiful dogs f " Dou was the larger dog, being tall and strong-limbed, while Belt was slender, nervous, and active. They ran in parallel lines some thirty yards apart, their heads well up, and their silky, fringed tails waving like banners. '' Is n't it jolly ! " exclaimed Neil, as his excitement overmastered him. *' I never saw anything so fine ! " " If we only had guns," said Hugh, leaning over the side of the wagon, " how perfectly happy we should be ! " " Look at Don ! " called the man from the camp-wagon. The big dog had stopped suddenly with his head turned aside and his tail as stiff as a stick. Belt stopped too and looked toward Don. '^ He knows what he 's about," said the man. " There are praii-ie-chickens there, sure." They saw LTncle Charley begin to move more cautiously, holding his gun in front of him. He had not taken many steps when, with a great buzz, up rose a large flock of birds. Bang ! bang ! went both barrels of Uncle Charley's gun. The boys saw two of the birds tumble down. Hugh yelled like a young Indian, and, jumping out of the wagon, ran to where Uncle Charley stood. Don ''retrieved" — that is, brought in one bii'd and Belt the other. Neil wished to go and examine the game; but the horses were restless, and he could not leave them. Hugh, however, brought the birds to the wagon so that Neil could see what fine, l^right-feathered young prairie-cocks they were. Uncle Charley had marked with his eye the spot where the rest of the flock had settled down in the grass, and so, motioning the dogs forward, he tramped away, reloading his gun as he went. Hugh climbed into the wagon again and Neil drove on. " What is the naturalist's name for prairie-chicken, Neil? " said Hugli, hold- ing up one of the birds by its wing. '' Pinnated grouse, or cupidoma ciipido, is what scientific men call the bird," replied Neil, who was rather proud of his ornithological knowledge. Soon Belt came to a stanch stand and Don "backed" him, — as the man in the wagon said, — that is, Don pointed because he saw Belt point. Neil stopped the wagon to watch Uncle Charley '' flush," or scare up the birds. A single grouse rose and flew off to the left, giving Uncle Charley a hard chance. He fired promptly, first his right-hand barrel, then the left, missing with both. '' Well, well ! " cried Hugh ; '' I could have killed that bird myself ! " Uncle Charley reloaded his gun, and walked on. Another and another bird buzzed up. Bang ! bang !— one hit and one miss. The sport now grew intensely 12 BOYS' BOOK OF SPOBTS. exciting. Tlie grouse wei-e just euough scattered to give the gunner a chance to flush them one at a time. When he came hack to tlie wagon, he had eight birds, which, with the two already there, made ten in all. The dogs had their tongues out, and were panting vigorously. III. UNCLE CHARLEY MEETS AN f)LD FRIEND. " rpHAT is what I don't like about bird-hunting on the prairies," said Uncle JL Charley, as he helped the dogs into the camp-wagon ; " it 's so hard on the dogs to do without water. See how Belt pants ! He 's almost famished for a drink and a bath. We '11 have to drive on till we find water." There was a big box of ice in the camp-wagon, upon which the birds were put to keep cool. The ice was packed in saw-dust to keep it from melting. Belt lay down by this ice-box and seemed to greatly enjoy its effect. Our friends drove on, but it was late in the afternoon before they found a suitable spot ou which to camp. This was under some scrubby oak-trees, by the side of a sluggish little brook. There was a spring of very good water close by. A farm-house was in sight, on a high swell of the prairie. It was flanked by "broad-winged barns, and half-hidden in a dusky apple-orchard. A tall windmill, with a gayly painted wheel, was shining and fluttering in the bright sunlight. As soon as the wagons were stopped the dogs leaped out and ran to wallow in the brook. The man who had driven the camp-wagon soon had the horses cared for and the tents put up. The luncheon brought from home was spread upon a clean cloth, and the boys thought they had never before eaten anything quite so good. The long ride in the open air and the excitement of tlie sport had whetted their appetites. Hngh said the sun had burned the back of his neck so badly that he believed the skin w^ould come off; but he was ready to follow the nian-of-all- work to the farm-house, where they got a basket of apples. While they were away Uncle Charley gave Neil his first lesson in handling a gun. ''The first thing to be learned," said he, ''is to stand properly. Plant both your feet naturally and firmly on the ground, so that the joints of your legs are neither stiff nor bent ; then lean the upper part of your body sliglitly forAvard. Grip the gunstock just behind the guard with the right hand, the forefinger lightly touching the foremost trigger, that is, the trigger of the right-hand barrel. The stock of the gun, a few inches in front of the guard, must rest Don •'retrie\-ing." 14 BOYS' BOOK OF SPORTS. easily in the hollow of the left hand. Hold the muzzle of the gun up and slanting away from you, so that the lower end of the butt is just lower than your right elbow. Now, if both hammers have been cocked, and you gently and swiftly draw the butt of the gun up to and against the hollow of the right shoulder, you will find yourself in good position for taking aim, which is best done by keeping both eyes wide open, and looking straight over the rib between the barrels with the right eye." Neil took Uncle Charley's gun, and ])egan to try to follow his instructions. " But how am I to know that I am sighting with my right eye, if I keep both eyes open ? " inquired he. " Oh, you '11 soon discover that trick," said Uncle Charley, '' by fixing your aim with both eyes open, and then, holding perfectly steady, closing the left eye ; if the line of sight now changes, you have not sighted coiTcctly; if it remains fixed, the aim has been taken with the right eye." Neil tried it over and over again with great care, until he was quite sure he had mastered the method. He was a cool-headed, methodical boy, not in the least nervous, and what he undertook he always tried to do well. " Now," said Uncle Charley, " I am going to see if you can hit anything." He looked around to find something on the ground that he could throw into the air for Neil to shoot at ; but he could not see anything. " Oh, well," he said, taking off his hunting-cap, " I guess this w'ill do. Now take your position." Neil prepared himself, holding the gun just as Uncle Charley had taught him. He was determined to hit that cap if he could, for he thought Uncle Chai-ley meant to make fun of his marksmanship by thus offering to toss up his own cap. " Are you ready ? " cried Uncle Charley, standing about twenty paces from Neil. " Yes," was the prompt answer. Whirling over and over, up went the cap through the air in a high curve. Neil aimed as he had been directed and banged away. The dust and lint flew from the cap in a small cloud. Neil had purposely fired the left-hand barrel, which was close-choked for long-range shooting ; consequently a very large number of shot had hit the cap, fairly riddling it with holes. At a later point in this story the reader will have the methods of making gun-barrels explained, so that he will fully understand what close-choked means. Uncle Charley went to his cap and picked it up. He smiled rather ruefully as he examined it. " Pretty well done, I should say," he exclaimed ; " but, Neil, which barrel did you fire ? " " The left-hand one," Neil answered, smiling in turn. LiliVIX AND HIS JidV IIIWTKRS. 15 front triijf^er." slipiH'd it off lio-lilly and " But I told j'ou to put your right forefin-liiii<; lieartily, " l)iit I pulled the other trigger." *' Aud why did you do tliat f " ''Well," said Neil, '' I saw that you liad a eoutempt for my shooting alnlity, so I thought I 'd give your cap a good dose ! " Uncle Charlt^v still looked at his wound- ed cap. ''Well, well," he said, " if this had been a bird you would n't have left a feather on it ! You did splendidly, how- ever ; it was a fine shot ; you hit my cap with the very center of your load." Secretly Neil felt quite proud of his success, but he kept cool and said but little. "Be careful there!" cried Uncle Charley, as Neil lowered the gun to the ground, " never set your gun down with a hammer up. That is the cause of many deplorable accidents." " Oh, I forgot ! " said Neil, his face flushing. "You must never forget anything when you are handling fire-arms. To avoid accident you must be constantly on the alert and always cautious, not overlooking even the slightest precaution." Tlio first cuinpiiig \ 16 BOYS' BOOK OF SPOETS. When Hugh and the man returned from the farm-house, the sun had sunk low in the west, and the praii-ie-chickens were booming their peculiar calls far out on the rolling plain. " Hugh," said Uncle Charley, " I shall leave you and Mr. Hurd " (tlie man-of- all-work) " in charge of the camp, while Neil and I go for a short tramp among the chickens." Then he took his gun, and, calling the dogs, started down the side of the little stream, closely followed by Neil. Hugh felt quite tired, so he lay down at the root of a tree and soon fell into a light, sweet sleep, while Mr went about preparing supi)er. When they had gone a little way , ' from camp, Uncle Charley said to Neil: " Here, take my gun and let 's see if you can kill a Of course Neil He took the gun, lowed the dogs, signs of scenting stream. Very soon up from among and thick grass As quickly as pos- best aim he could, prairie-chicken." was delifihted. and eagerl\ tol- they iAiow ed game down the a large bird fie^\ some low amIIows at the water's odire sible Neil took the and fired first the Ntil took tht bcst .iim he right barrel, tlien the left; but the big bird flew on as though nothing had happened. Uncle Charley laughed heartily, and Neil looked rather crestfallen and abashed at his failure. '' If you had killed that duck, my l3oy, you would have been liable to a fine," said Uncle Charley. " Why, was that a duck ?" exclaimed Neil, still gazing blankly at the depart- ing bird ; '' I thought it was a grouse." " Well, you 're saved this time," added Uncle Charley ; *' those cartridges you fired had no shot in them ! " "I thought something was wrong," said Neil, bird. I did n't understand how I could miss it." for I aimed exactlv at that MAJ{\'IX AND HIS BOY HVyTEliS. 17 "Now, then, I '11 put some properly loaded cartridges in the gun," said Uncle Charley, laughing grimly ; " but you must n't fire at any bird but a i)raiiie- ehicken, because the law forbids it at this season." They went on, and the dogs soon pointed a flock of grouse in some low, di-y grass on a windy swell of the prairie. Neil had seven fair shots, and killed just one bird. He could not understand how this could happen. He tried very hard to aim just as he had been instructed, but he kept missing, nevertheless. When it began to grow dusky on the prairie, and they had turned toward the camp, Uncle Charley explained to Neil why he had missed so many birds. He said: " In the first place, you are in too great a hurry, and consequently shoot too soon. Then, again, you aim right at a flying bird, which is wrong, save when it flies directly away from you. It is absolutely necessary to aim somewhat ahead of the game when its course is to the left or right of your line of aim." "Well," said Neil, "I 'U try and remember that." When they reached the camp it was quite dark, but ^Ir. Hurd had a l>lazing fire, which lighted up a large space. A pot of coffee was steaming on a bed of coals, and over this some birds were broiling, filling the air Avith a savory smell that made Neil very hungry. They were rather surprised to find a strange man sitting by the fire. He stood up when they aj»proached, and then he and Uncle Charley liastened toward each other and shook hands. '• Why, my old friend Marvin ! " cried Uncle Charley. " How glad I am to see you." "Charley, my boy, how d'ye dof" said 3Iarvin. -^^ A duel on the prairie. 18 BOYS' BOOK OF SPORTS. IV. MARVIN THE MARKET-HUNTER. HUGH had been (iiiictly sleeping all this time at the foot of the tree ; but when he heard Unele Charley's voice, he awoke and sat up, rubbing his eves with his fists. At first he could hardly remember where he was, and stared wildly about ; everything looked so strange in the glare of the firelight. '' See what I brought down ! " cried Neil, going up to his brother and holding out the prairie- chicken, Hugh's memory cleared as by magic, and in a moment he was wide awake. " Oh, did Uncle Charley let you shoot with his gun?" he inquired, his eyes growing bright at the thought. '' I should think he did," said Neil; "have n't you heard me firing away ? " '*! believe I 've been asleep," said Hugh ; " but who is the gen- tleman Uncle Charley is talking with f" '' His name is John Marvin ; they seem to he old friends ; Mr. Hurd says he's a nuir- ket-hunter." '' What is a market- hunter f" asked Hugh. 1. He makes his living Neil's first prairie-chicken. A market-hunter is a man who kilU _ ame to s by hunting," replied Neil. Supper was soon ready, andMr. Maa-vin ioined them in eating the well-cooked meal. It delighted the boys to hear him and rn.-le CliarU'V talk over their hunting adventures and their experiences by Hood and iicM, for they had l^oth 3TAI{VIX A XI) HIS HOY 11 I'M hi! S. 19 been to many wild and intci-cstinu;- jjlact's, and had seen many sti-anji^o l>ii-ds and animals. Mr. Marvin said he had been having good hick with prairie-claekens since the opening- of the season. Birds, he said, were far more plentifnl than usual, and he hoped to make enough money, by the time cold weather came on, to enable him to go South, where he hoped to hunt throughout the coming winter. Mr. Marvin was a man of about fifty years of age, and had followed market- hunting all his life. He seemed to know everything that was worth knowing about guns and dogs and the habits of wild game. Uncle Charley evidently regarded this man's opinions as authority on outdoor subjects. In fact, Xcil and Hugh soon discovered that Mr. JMarvin was a very well-known and highly esteemed man among the best class of American sportsmen and naturalists. He was a regular agent of the Smithsonian Institute at Washington for collect- ing rare specimens of nests, eggs, birds, fishes, and animals. They all sat up far into the night, planning various little expeditions, and enjoying the cool breeze and the fresh perfume of the prairie ; and when they lay down in their tents they slept soundly until the eastern sky was growing bright with the dawn. Marvin's tent was only a little way up the brook from the camp of Uncle Charley and the boys. Just after breakfast he hastened down to say that he had seen a large flock of grouse alight in a field of oat-stubble on the neighboring farm. Uncle Charley made short work with the rest of his meal, slipped on his long rubber boots to protect his feet and legs from the heavy dew, called the dogs, seized his gun, and was off with Marvin before the boys were half through breakfast. Not many minutes later the guns began to boom. Neil and Hugh could easily distinguish the sound of Marvin's gun from that of Uncle Charley, for the reason that Marvin used a heavy ten-bore piece with five drams of powdgr and an ounce and a quarter of shot for a charge. Hugh declared that the gun sounded like a young cannon. " I guess he '11 beat Uncle Charley killing birds," said Neil ; " he seems to know more about the business, and then he 's had more practice." " I think I should like to be a market-hunter," exclaimed Hugh, " and just go from one good shooting-ground to another, all the year round, Avith nothing to do but shoot birds and collect eggs and nests. What a lot of fun it must be ! " "You'd get pretty tired after awhile, or I 'm no judge," said Mr. Hurd. *' It 's mighty monotonous work tramping around all the time with nothing but shoot, shoot, shoot fi'oni month's end to month's end. That would n't suit me, I can tell yon." '' I reckon you could n't liit anything if yon tried to hunt." said Hugh quickly. "■ I could take a broom-handle and hit you if you gave me very much of your sauce," responded Mr. Hurd. who was inclined to be ill-tempered. But Hugh oulv laughed a littlr and walked away. 20 BOYS' BOOK OF SPORTS. Marvin and Uncle Charley make havoc among the grouse. As the sun rose higher and the grass began to dry, the boys went for a stroll aloug the brook. They found many beautiful wild flowers, the loveliest ones being large white water-lilies, with broad thin leaves floating on a still pond. While looking at these, they saw an old duck with her half-grown brood of young ones hastily swimming away to hide among the tall weeds on the farther side of the water. "I see now why the law forbids shooting ducks in sumnver," said Neil. '' If one were to shoot that old duck now, the young ones would not know what to do ; they would probably wander about for a few days and die." The boys gathered some lilies and carried them back to the cam}). Uncle Charley and Marvin returned about ten o'clock with a lieavy load of birds. Marvin had killini twenty-three and Uncle Charley nine. " It 's no use for me to shoot with Marvin," said the hitter, in a tone of good- natured chagrin; "he always doubles my score." ^' I told you so," said Neil aside to Hugh. '' "Mv. Marvin is a very great shot." Through the middle of the day, while it was too hot to hunt, they all hiy in the shade of the trees and talked, or read some books on natural history that Neil had l)rought from his father's library. Mr, Marvin took great pleasure in listening to Neil as he read aloud from ''Wilson's Ornithology." Occasionally, he would interrupt the reading to throw in some interesting reminiscence of his wild-wood rambles, or to make some shrewd comment on the naturalist's state- MAin'ix AXJ) HIS nor ihxtkrs. 21 inents. Neil soon liked Mr. Marvin very iiiucli, and so did Hugh. In fact, the hunter was so straightforward ami honest in his manner, so frank-faced and clear-eyed, that one must like him and trust him. He told the boys a gi'eat many stories of his life in Southern Florida, with adventures that l)efell him while he was exploring the everglades and vast swamps of that wild region. He seemed a very encyclopedia of varied hunting experience. Almost any healthy boy will find such a man to be a charming companion ; and if the boy is desirous of obtaining knowledge, he can gather a great deal of it from listen- ing to the conversation. Mr. Marvin soon discovered the gn^at hope the boys had of one day Ijeing good shots, so he went to his tent and brought a little sixteeu-bore gun that he used for killing snipe and wood- cock and other small birds. He took out the cartridges, and lianded the guu to Hugh. '' Now," said he, '' let me see how you would handle it if yow were going to shoot a bird." Hugh seized the gun, much as a hungry lioy would grab a slice of plum-pudding, jerked it up to his shoulder, shut one eye, — which got his face all in a funny twist, — opened his mouth sidewise, and pulled the trigger. The\' all laughed at him long and loudly. Uncle Charley declared that he would give a dollar for a correct photograph of that attitude. But Hugh was too much in earn- est to be laughed down. He kept trying until he could get himseK into passable form; but it was ])lain to Uncle Charley that he would never be as cool and grace- ful as Neil. Hugh's enthusiasm counted for a great deal, however, and might carry him through some tight places where more deliberation and scrupulous care would fail. Mr. Marvin next put some unloaded cartridges in the gun, and allowed Hugh to fire at an apple that he flung into the air. When the cartridges exploded, Hugh winked his eyes and dodged. Even Belt laughed. "Be perfectly cool and steady," said !Mr. Marvin: "you '11 get it all right presently." " Even Belt laughed. 22 BOYS' BOOK OF SPOUTS. " Of course I will," exclaimed Hugh, his voice trembliug with excitement and his eyes gleaming. '' I 'd have hit that apple if the shell had been loaded." '• No, you 'd have overshot it," said Mr. Marvin ; " you were too slow in pulling the trigger. The apple fell a foot between the time you shut your eyes and the time you fired." Hugh found mueh trouble in controlling his eyes ; but he finally succeeded in keeping them open while firing, and he soon began to show increasing steadiness and confidence. Mr. Marvin then ex})l louI and ^wcct. 28 BOYS' BOOK OF SPOUTS. wings. Its rise was so sudden and unexpected that Neil was really startled, and he stood gazing at the bird until it dropped again down into the cripple. He had entirely forgotten to shoot at it ! The next moment Snip came to a stanch stand a little farther in the thicket. Neil drew a long breath to try to steady his nerves, held his gun in position, and walked slowly forward. Flip ! whiz ! Out of a tuft of tangled weeds rose a fine strong bird, its wings gleaming brightly, and its long bill thrust forward. Neil tried to keep cool and aim steadily ; but he was so eager to kill the game that he fumbled and poked with his gun before he could pull the trigger, and the bird escaped. Snip looked inquiringly at the young sportsman, as if at a loss to know what this slow business could mean. Neil heard Mr. Marvin fire several times. " That means game for the market- man," he said to liimself ; '■'■he does n't get excited." It required a great deal of tramping before Snip could find another woodcock. This time Neil behaved in a more sportsmanlike way ; but he missed the bird, nevertheless. He had shot so hurriedly, in order to hit the bird before it got into the bushes again, that his aim had been wrong. Bang! bang! he heard Mr. Marvin's gun again, some distance off. Just then he stumbled a little, and stepped upon a soft place, sinking instantly to his armpits in a slimy slu.sh of mud and water. He seized a strong bush as he went down, and this was all that saved him, for his feet did not touch bottom. His gun had fallen across some tufts of weeds and grass, so that it did not sink. " Ugh ! ugh ! " grunted Neil, as the ugly black mud oozed around him. Then he began to struggle, trying to get out. But the mud clung to him and he could gain no chance to use the strength of his arms. This frightened him, and he called Mr. Marvin in as loud a voice as he could command. There was no answer. He called again and again ; still no answer. The whole surround- ing country had suddenly grown as noiseless as midnight. Neil was a brave boy, but his heart sank as he thought of what might now befall him. The mud was cold, chilling him with its disgusting touch. He heard a herdsman singing far away on the prairie, and then the double report of a gun in the extreme dis- tance. Had Mr. Marvin gone off after a flock of grouse ? The thought made Neil nearly desperate. He struggled hard and long to draw himself out ; but, to his dismay, the bush to which he was clinging began to show signs of giving way. If it should break, he would disappear in the mud and never be seen again. He called Mr, Marvin again and again, in a high, clear voice. Bang ! bang ! sounded the gun once more, apparently a little nearer. Neil now screanu'd and yelled desperat(^ly, for his arms were growing tiri'd and weak. He thought of Hugh and Uncle Charley and his kind fatlu'r at home. He looked at the gun, and it flashed into his head that his foolish desire to have a gun had been the cause of his dreadful misfortune. He wished he were at home. The tears were 3fAIiVJX AMJ JUS BOY IHWTERS. 29 running: (^iown his cheeks, and he was quite pale. He kept up his doleful callin^r, but he was too weak to stru^frle any longer. Even the dog seemed to have deserted him in his extreme danuvr. YI. HUGH'S FIRST BIRD. SOON after Mr. Marvin and Neil had ijone away toward the woodcock grounds, Uncle Charley took Hugh and went to look for grouse. Hugh carried Uncle Charley's small gun, and as they walked along, watching the dogs circle about in search of the game, Uncle Charley explained the (airious process by which the barrels of fine shot-guns are made. He said : " Those beautiful waved lines and curious flower-like figures that appear on tlie surface of the barrels are really the lines of welding, showing that two different metals, iron and steel, are intimately blended in making the finest and strongest barrels. The process of thus welding and blending steel and iron is a very interesting one. Flat bars, or ribbons, of steel and iron are alternately arranged together and then twisted into a cable. Several of these cables ai-e then welded together and shaped into a long flat bar which is next spirally coiled around a hollow cylinder called a mandrel, after which the edges of these spiral l)ars are heated and firmly welded. The spiral coil is now put upon what is called a welding mandrel, is again heated and carefully hammered into the shape of a gun-barrel. Next comes the cold hammering, by which the i)ores of the metal are securely closed. The last or finishing operation is to turn the barrel on a lathe to exactly its proper shape and size. By all the twistings and weldings and hammerings, the metals are so blended that the mass has somewhat the consistency and toughness of woven steel and iron. A barrel thus made is very hard to burst. But the finishing of the inside of the barrel is an operation requiring very great care and skill. What is called a cylinder-bored barrel is where the bore or hole through the barrel is made of uniform size from end to end. A choke-bore is one that is a little smaller at the muzzle end than it is at the breech end. There are various wavs of 'choking' gun-barrels, but the 30 BOYS' BOOK OF SPORTS. oljjeet of all methods is to make the gun throw its shot close together with even and regular distribution and with great force. There are several kinds of metallic combinations that gnnmakers use, the principal of which are called Damascus, Bernard, and laminated (or plated) steel; the Damascus barrels are generally considered the best." Hugh had listened very attentively to what Uncle Charley said, l)ut he was also watcliing the dogs as they searched in every direction for grouse. In the midst of a slough Belt came to a stand, but Don refused to back him. " There 's a prairie-chicken, sure ! " exclaimed Hugh, holding his gun ready. " I think not," said Uncle Charley, "for Belt acts as if he does n't feel interest in what he is doing, and Don, you see, refuses to back him." " I '11 walk up, anyhow," said Hugh, '' there may be a chicken." '' Don't be in too great a hurry ; be deliberate, and, if a bird flies up, take good aim before you fire," said Uncle Charley. Hugh proceeded very cautiously througli the liigh grass, keeping liis eyes alei-t and his hands ready. Uncle Charley stood watching liim. Belt turned his head to one side and behaved rather sheepishly, as if ashamed of what he was doing. Suddenly, with a sharp flapping of wings, a heavy' bird arose from a tuft f)f water-grass and slowly flew along in a straight line away from Hugh. Here was the main chance for a good, easy shot, and the boy did not neglect his opportunity. Up went his gun, a good steady aim was taken, and then the report rang out on the air. The big l)ird fell almost straight down. " Well done ! " cried Uncle Charley, laughing loudly, " well done ! " But Belt refused to retrieve. Hugh hurried to where his game had fallen, and picked it up. Uncle Charley kept on laughing. " Why, it's a thunder-pumper! " said Hugh, holding the l)ird high by its long .slim legs. '' I was sure it was a chicken ! " " A great sportsman you are ! " cried Uncle Charley, '' not able to know a bittern from a grouse ! Why, Belt knew better all the time ! " " Well, I hit it, all the same, anyhow," responded Hugh. " That 's nothing to boast of, I should say," remarked Uncle Charley ; " do you know how many shot you let fly at that bird f " " An ounce of number nines, I think," replied Hugh. "But how many pellets are there in an ounce of numl)er nine shot?" inquired Uncle Charley. " I don't know," said Hugh. "Well, there are five hundred and ninety-six." " So many ? " " Yes," said Uncle Charley, "you had five hundred and ninety-six chances to hit it." "I am sorry I killed it," said Hugh; " l)nt 1 thought it was a praii-ie-ehirken. It is a vcrv liandsotnc l)ii-d; is it of anv value?" 3fAiiVix Axn HIS HOY nrxTHii'S. 31 f "^(¥^^ " No," replied Uncle Charley ; "' but the IiuUiuis formerly hunted them for their mandibles, with which they used to point their arrows for killinj;- small ^ame. See how sharp they are! I allowed you to shoot at it in order to teach you a lesson. First, whenever you see a do<>: aetinfj: as Belt did, you may be sure it is not pointing- a ganie-l)ir(l. Second, you (»uuht t<» know as soon as a bii-d riso whether or not it is of a kind lit to kill. A ti-ue sportsman is always quick with liis eyes, and never com- mits the mistake of shooting: a tliun- der-pumper for a grouse !"' / " How did I handle my gun '? " a^ inquired Hugh, "did I seem to know liow to sh(X)t ? '' ''You hurried too much. Tlie bird hadn't gone twenty feet when you fired. You must remember to be deliberate and to keep your wits about you." They went on, and the dogs soon pointed a small flock of grouse in a field of Aveeds. The birds were in excellent condition, scarcely grown, and flew slowly; but Hugh missed a omom. ,„• ■■ ,nunu..,-pumper. four before he killed one. He banged away at every wing he saw. Uncle Charley several times scolded him roundly for his careless shooting. He promised to be very cautious ; l)ut lie had not fired a half-dozen more shots before he hit Belt in the ear with a pellet, making him howl at a terrible rate. " One more heedless action," cried Uncle Charley, " and I '11 take that gun from you and never allow you to touch it again ! I never saw any one so awkward. You a(;t as if you had no eyes ! " Hugh felt greatly chagrined. The tears came into his eyes as Belt ran up, with bleeding ear, to fondle about him. Of course the hurt was very slight, but Hugh's conscience told him that he had been foolishly careless after all that had been said to him. He resolved in his heart never again to allow his eager- ness and enthusiasm to drive away his prudence and caution. All the morning', as we have said, the sky had been overcast with a film of clouds. About ten o'clock it began to drizzle, and so our hunters turned toward the camp. Uncle Charley had killed a dozen chickens and Hugh had killed one. They reached the tents just as the rain l)egan to fall heavily. Mr. Marvin and Neil had not returned. "I giTess they're in for a good old-fashioned wetting," said Hugh. "Are n't th(\v coming yonder.'" I^nele Charley in(|uired. pointing at two dark spots far out on the prairie, barely diseei-iii)»le tlii-ougli tlie gray, slanting lines of rain. 32 BOYS' BOOK OF SPORTS. " I can't tell," said Hiigli ; '' they are so far away and the air is so full of mist.'" Vnele Charley showed Hii«rh how to clean his gun inside and how to wipe it dry (mtside before putting it into its case. A good gun requires careful usage. Kust must never be allowed to appear anywhere about it, especially on the inside. YII. MR. JIARVIN TALKS ABOUT MARKET- HUXTENG. w 'HEN, at last, Mr. Marvin heard Neil's cries, he hastened to the spot whence they pro- ceeded, and perceived at once that the lad was in a dangerous predicament. Pick- ing up Neil's gun, he fired both barrels in- to the air, to provide against accident, as he wished to nse the gun in getting Neil out of the mire. Treading carefully, he extended the stock of the empty gun toward Neil, who clutched it with a strong grip the mo- ment it came within his reach. And thus the })oy was drawn sh.wl v but surely out of the mud, and at last regained his footing upon firm ground. Tie could not sufficiently express his thankfulness to Mr. Marvin, and declared li.' could not have held on much longer. MARVIX AXn HIS BOY IirXTKJiS. 33 So the two dark forms, so indistinctly seen by Uncle Charley and Biv^rh, proved to be Mr. Marvin and Neil, thonj^h the latter h)()ked more like a rough model in mud than like a real live boy. He was completely incrusted in the sticky, slimy muck of the marsh, which, l)eing very black, made his face look almost ghostly pale. '' AVliy, what in the world is tlie matter, Neil?" cried Hugh, as at last lie recognized him. Neil laughed rather dolefully, glancing down over his unpleasant coat of mud-mail. -I fell into a quagmire up yonder," he replied. "I think if I had let go I should have gone clear down to China ! Mr. Marvin pulled me out." '' The boy went swimming in a loblolly of prairie mud," said Mr. Marvin ; '' it made him very clean, you see." Neil was soon quite comfortable, and, when dinner was ready, he ate heartily, and enjoyed all the jokes that were made over his singular and dangerous adventure. But he could not help shuddering now and then as he thought of the desperate situation from which Mr. Marvin had snatched him at the last moment. '' I '11 notice where I'm stepping when I go into another swamp, I can tell you," he said ; '' I 'm not anxious for any more such plunges." "You and Hugh must be two of the most careless boys in the world," said Uncle Charley. " Hugh came near shooting me and did shoot Belt, and at the same time you were trying to swim in quick-mud ! " "Oh, the boys will be all right," remarked Mr. Marvin; "they only need to watch and learn. Each mishap will t(^ach them a lesson." The rain continued all the rest of the day. It came steadily down in fine drops, and made the prairie look sad and dreary enough. The dogs curled themselves up under a wagon, mth their noses between their feet, and slept, no doubt dreaming of grouse and woodcock. During the afternoon, the conversation turned on market-hunting, and Mr. Marvin told the boys many interesting facts about his business. " I do not shoot much game for the general market," he said. " The most of what I kill goes to wealthy individuals with whom I have contracts. By taking great care in packing and shipping my game, I have managed to get the confi- dence of some rich epicures and some private clubs in the cities of Chicago, Cincinnati, and New York, and they pay me nearly double what I could get in the general market. They usually allow me twenty-five cents each for prairie- chickens, twenty cents each for quails, and forty cents each for woodcock ; so you see the eight woodcock I killed this morning will gain me three dollars and twenty cents. My employers pay the express charges and often send me supplies of ammunition, so that my expenses are very light. I have made as much as fifteen dollars a day shooting geese at fifty cents each. Spring, 3 34 JiOY^' HOOK OF SI'OHTS. summer, and autumn I spend in the North and West ; in winter I go south to Georgia and Florida, where I find the best of shooting. In North Georgia, for instance, there are many old plantations partly grown up in broom-sedge, the greatest covert for quail that I ever saw. In Florida I do not shoot much game as it is hard to get ice with which to pack it, and the shipping facilities are not good ; but I kill lierons and roseate spoonbiUs and ibises for their feathers, and I collect rare specimens for the Smithsonian Institute. You should see some of the curious bird's-nests I have sent to the Institute — herons' nests from the Okeechobee region, cuckoos' nests from Georgia, rails' nests from the Kankakee, and nests of the Canada jay from the pine-woods of Canada. I have sold great numbers of eggs, too, to collectors and scientific men." ''What a grand time you have had," exclaimed Hugh, ''going from one fine hunting-ground to another, always es- caping our cold, dreary winters, and always out in the free open air with your dogs and guns. How I should like to be a market-hunter ! " "You'd soon be- come tired of it," replied Mr. Mar- vin ; " there are many disap- pointnu'uts and vexatious , ,,. drawbacks connected with it. nd iiUiiLrator. „ At some seasons, game or shooting becomes very dull work. I remember that several years ago I'conld liardly find chickens enough on the ]u-airie for my own boiling. Of course, I like the business ; it just suits me ; but I do not advise any all kind.'- Pickau; scarce, and MAIiVIX AND HIS BOY IICMKUS. 35 boy to think of trviiio- it. With sti-iiijj^eut ^ame-laws and tiic <^ro\vin(^ oppoj^i- tion to free hnuting- by the hmcUords, the time is near wlien a market-hunter will have a poor ehanee for a living'." '^ Mr. Marvin," said Neil, *' is woodcock-shooting always surrounded by as many difficulties as we have just experienced ? If it is, I shall ask to be excused from indulging in the si)ort hereafter." Mr. Marvin chuckled in his droll way, and said : '' Well, Neil, a fellow does n't always have to dive into mud-sinks, as you did. I remember some fine woodcock-shooting I once had in Southern Florida. I found a little open glade, between two feeding-places, over which the birds would fly to and fro, in the evening twilight. I took my stand at a favorable point, and fired at them as they passed. At first I could not shoot well in so dim a light ; but after a while I was able to fetch them down quite as easily as in midday." "Ah, Florida; that's the place," cried Hugh, ''I wonder if I shall ever get there ? I 've read so many delightful accounts of its fine climate, its delicious fruits, and its abundance of birds. Did you see any alligators while you were there?" " Yes, many a one," said Mr. Marvin. '' I remember during one season when I was shooting herons down in the big cypress region, that I used occasionally to go over to a cattle-man's house to get a supply of salt. This man had a family of. negroes, among them a coal-black pickaninny about five years old, who took a great liking to me, and would always try to follow me away. Of course, he was not allowed to do this; but one day it seems that the little fellow, quite naked and bare-headed, managed to elude every one. When I had gone about a quarter of a mile on my way to my camp, just after I had crossed a dark little stream by means of a foot-log, I heard a child scream. I ran back as quickly as I could, for I knew that scream was one that meant something terrible. When I reached the stream I saw a huge creature mo\dng across the path and soon made out that it was an alligator. I cocked my gun and hurried forward, but too late, — the big saurian had slid safely into the water of an ugly pond. I looked about in a bewildered way, my heart as faint as a sick man's. Everything seemed as still as death. Suddenly a well-known voice came from the lower limbs of a scrubljy tree : " ' Massa Marbin, d — d — dat g — g — 'gator scare m — m — me m — ni — mos' to def.' '^I looked, and there, curled u}) like a coon in a fork of the tree, lay the pickaninny, safe and sound. He never tried to follow me again." " I am curious to know something more about woodcock-hunting," said Neil, whose disaster had only whetted his appetite f(^r sport. " I once hunted in Michigan with an Englishman, who put bells on his dogs when he went Avoodcock-huntiug," said ]Mr. Marvin. " AVhy f " queried Hugh. 36 BOYS' BOOK OF SPOBTS. " Well, wheu the dogs got into thick covert, he coiild trace their course by the sound of the bells, and whenever the tinkling ceased, he knew they were point- ing birds." *' That was not a bad idea," said Neil. '* He was a jolly fellow, that Englishman," continued Mr. Marvin ; '' he liked a droll joke, even if it were against himself. He told me that one day he went out to a woodcock covert with a belled dog, and after following the sound back and forth, and around and around in the tangled growth, suddenly the tinkling ceased. Very much pleased, he went to the spot expecting to flush a bird, but he could find neither his dog nor any woodcock. Long and patiently he tramped about the spot to no purpose. Then he called his dog ; it did not come. Here was a mystery. Could it be possible that his dog had fallen dead in some dense clump of the covert ? He called until he was hoarse, and finally went back to camp tired and mystified. And there lay his dog at the tent door, dozing in the sun. It had lost the bell ! " " Where do you find the most profitable market-hunting ? " inquired Uncle Charley. " When the autumn flight of geese and ducks is good, I get my best shooting in the Kankakee region of Indiana and Illinois," said Mr. Marvin ; '' but turkey- shooting in North Georgia used to be very profitable." " Have you never hunted large game, such as deer and bear ? " queried Hugh. " Not much ; it does not pay. I don't care for anything larger than a goose or a turkey. AVIien it comes to real sport, quail-shooting is the very best of all,*' replied Mr. Marvin. ^' You are right," said Unc-le Charley, ''the quail is the noblest game-bird in America." ''A thunder-pumper is not bad game when a fellow is keen for a shot." said Hugh, wdth a comical grimace. Uncle Charley laughed, remembering how Hugh looked as he stood holding up tlie bittern after he had shot it. Neil and Mr. Marvin did not understand the joke, or they would have lauglied too. It was not fair to Neil, perhaps, to thus keep Hugh's mistake a secret after Neil's mishap had been so fully discussed, but Hugh was the younger, and Uncle Charley favored him on that account. When night came it was still raining steadily. Mr. ]Marvin remained talking with Uncle Charley and the boys until late bed-time. He told nuiny of his strange adventures and described a number of pleasing incidents connected with his tramps l)y flood and field. It was especially interesting to hear him describe the habits of birds and animals as he had observed them. But Neil, whoso practical and philosophic turn of mind led him to desire information that would be of general benefit, asked many questions concerning i)ractical gunnery. '^ Mr. Marvin," he said, " there is a proposition of natural philoso])hy laid down in my school-book which bothers inc. Tlie ])ook states that a body, say a Imllet, 3IARV1X A XI) fffS BOY HUNTERS. 37 A covey of quail— '"the noblest game-bird in America." for instance, when thrown upward, will fall to the earth with the same force as that with which it started. Now, if this is true, why do we never hear of any one beinjy hit and killed by a falling- bullet ? " '' Your school-book is mistaken, if that is what it says," replied Mr. :\Iarvin. "A bullet shot from a rifle directly upward will start with a force sufficient to drive it through three or four inches of hard oak wood. It will fall with scarcely force enough to dent the same wood. I have, in shooting vertically at wild pigeons flying above me, had number eight shot fall on my head and shoulders witliout injury to me. The difficulty with the philosophical theory is that it does not consider correctly the resistance of the atmosphere and the comparative bulk and shape of falling bodies. Now, an arrow with a heavy point will come much nearer falling with its initial velocity than will a round bullet ; because the arrow, falling point downward, has all the weight of the shaft directly over the point, which makes it nearly the same as if it were a bullet of just the point's diametei", but weighing as much as the whole arrow." 38 BOYS' BOOK OF SPOIiTS. *' I see," said Neil ; " I wish I could have studied that out myself." " Oh, I dou't like investigations and study and all that," cried Hugh ; " I like fun and adventure and the pleasant, merry things of life." '' But the habit of investigation is most important," said Mr. Marvin, gravely ; " it prevents accident through ignorance and mistake, and it often leads to valuable discoveries. You will never be a successful man if you refuse to study and investigate. I should not wish to trust a boy alone with a gun, if he thought of nothing but fun and frolic. He 'd soon kill himself or some one else." With these words Mr. Marvin went away to his own tent, leaving the boys to reflect upon what he had said. VIII. IN THE PRAIRIE WEEDS, NEXT morning the sky was bright and clear. The wind had changed around to the north, blowing cool and sweet over the damp grass. Meadow larks were singing clearly as they swayed on the weed-tops with their yellow breasts shining like gold. Prairie-hawks sailed here and there, or, poising themselves in the air with their long, slender wings, seemed to rest above some particular spot for a time, as if studying something on the ground. Kildee plovers flew along the brook or ran about on a little marshy space hard by, piping in their noisy, peculiar way. There was the booming of the grouse and the distant lowing of cattle blending together; all nature seemed refreshed and happy. The sun soon dried the grass, and the boys were eager to be off after the game. Belt and Don sniffed the sweet air, and Snip and Sly leaped and frisked in glad anticipation of a wide, free range over the prairie. Uncle Charley and Mr. Marvin had arranged for a hunt in a stretch of weed prairie lying about a mile and a half west of the camp. One side of this par- ticular weed field was bordered by a luxuriant corn plantation, another side by a wheat field. Neil and Hugh, armed with the small-bore guns belonging to Uncle t'liarley and Mr. Marvin, stepped proudly and briskly ah)ng, listening to the Avords of advice and caution which those kind gentlemen were speaking for their benefit. '' Don't be too eager," s.ud Mr. Marvin. " Eagerness begets carelessness. Keep your wits about you." It was a beautiful sight to see the four dogs ranging at a brisk gallop, each ambitious to scent the first bird. Snip took the prize before reaching the weedy 3IAMVIX AXJ) HIS BOY HUNTERS. 39 part of the prairie, by coming to a stanch stand on a higli knoll where the grass was very short and thin. In a nioinent the three other dogs had backed him. " Snrely there are no birds tlu'i'c,'' said Xeil; "we conld see them; there's nothing to hide them.'' Hugli had nervously brought his gun to the position of "ready." " Steady now, steady, Hugh ; you are not to get excnted," said Uncle Charley, who was by the boy's side. " Oh, I 'm all right," replied Hugh ; but he was trembling. He was suffering from what is called " huntei-'s ague." His eagerness to get a shot had overcome his nerves. " Don't shoot until you 're certain what you 're shooting at," exclaimed Mr. Marvin, loud enough for both l)oys to hear him, " and, above all, l)e careful not to hit the dogs." The huntei's moved on in a row, keeping about ten paces apart, Mr. Marvin at one end. Uncle Charley at the other, and the boys in the middle. Every dog stood as rigid as a post. " Hold the muzzle of your gun higher," growled Mr. Marvin as Xeil stumbled over an uneven place. By this time Hugh was almost breathless with excitement. He tried des- perately to control himself and ])ehave coolly, but his nervousness constantly increased. A few more steps, and up rose a scattered flock of birds — grouse, scarcely old enough to fly with full power, but in excellent condition for market. Uncle Charley fired right and left, bringing dow^n two ; Mr. Marvin did tlie same. Neil killed a bird at his second shot, but Hugh blazed awiiy somewhat at random and did not touch a feather. " Mark where they pitch down," exclaimed Mr. Marvin ; "they 're fine birds — just old enough to suit the epicures." He was a little excited too; l)ut he was cpiite deliberate, nevertheless. At last the birds, rounding a little in their course, settled into the weeds. " Where 's your game, Hugh ? " said Uncle Charley, as the dogs brought in the dead grouse. " I think I missed," murmured Hugh. " Better luck next time," remarked Mr. Marvin, in a tone of encouragement. They all reloaded their guns and started on at a brisk pace. No one was expect- ing such a thing, when a strong chicken flushed right at Neil's toes. It dazed him so that he did not think of shooting; but Hugh whipped up his gun with impetuous haste and banged away with both barrels. Down canu^ the bird, with almost half its feathers stripped off. Both loads had taken effect at not over twelve yards distance ! "Hurrah for you, Hugh!" shouted Uncle Charley. "You beat us all that time." 40 BOYS' BOOK OF SPOUTS. ' rV V-^^ -^^ ■7^, >'f r^ "I killed it, anyway," remarked Hugh. " Shot the bird all into strings," said Mr. Marvin, " fired too soon ; that grouse can never be eaten." '' I don't care; I killed it, anyway," remarked Hugh as he picked up the riddled carcass. " Yes/' persisted Mr. Marvin, " but it 's a shame to kill anything in such a way as to render it worthless. You must try to be more deliberate." Hugh thought to himself that surely he could master this fault, and he firmly resolved to do it. Presently they reached a fence that stood between them and the weed field. Mr. Marvin halted and took the shells out of his gun. " What are you unloading for ?" asked Hugh. " I never climb over a fence with a loaded gun in my liands," said ^Iv. ]\Iarvin ; " a large number of the dreadful hunting accidents we hear of are caused by not observing this sim])le rule." Hugh took out his shells, too, and by a side glance saw Uncle Charley and Neil do likewise. MARVIX AXJJ HIS BOY HUXTEBS. 41 '^ One of my best frieuds was killed by falling off a fence vrith a loaded gnn in his band," Mr. Marvin added. " One can never be too careful." The weed covert into which the game had gone proved to Ijc troublesome. The rich soil of the prairie had sent up such a tall growth that Hugh and Neil would have been lost in it, so they had to stay on the edges of the thickest part while Mr. Marvin and Uncle Charley went in with the dogs and flushed the grouse. Soon a lively firing began. " Mark chicken ! " one of the men would cry whenever a l)ird would rise, and then the guns would begin to roar. Bang, bang, this way; bang, bang, that way; the game whizzing up and dropping down ; the dogs fetching in the dead birds and all hands eager and active. " Be careful where you shoot ! " yelled Hugh, as Uncle Charley sent a load of shot hurtling through the weeds quite close to the excited lad. The boys banged away at every bird that came near them. Neil was begin- ning to show some skill, fetching down his game quite often and in good style ; but Hugh could not be patient and painstaking enough. The birds that escaped the guns went over into the wheat-stul )ble, and, scat- tering widely, offered a chance for some good sport. Hugh took Snip and went to where he had marked down three of them. The dog soon pointed one in a place where, owing to some thick weeds, the wheat had been left uncut. Hugh stopped for a minute to try to steady himself, and then went slowly on, glancing rapidly in every du-ection, for he did not know just at what point the game would rise. Now, a good sportsman never allows his eyes to v/ander at such a time, but keeps them fixed steadily to the front ; in that way he can see a bird rise anywhere within the space covered by even the dimmest part of his vision. Then, too, he trusts to his ears to warn him of the first flutter of a wing in the covert. It is not strange, however, that Hugh showed signs of excitement. Some of the greatest and bravest men that ever lived have been so fond of field-sports that the sight of a bevy of quails or the sound of a pheasant's wings would arouse in them a mighty desire for a dog and a gun. But, boys, I may say just here, you will find no instance recorded in history where a dog and a gun ever made a man's life great. Like every other pastime, hunting should be a means of recreation, if not of pecuniary profit as in the case of the market-hunter. Hugh felt his heart beating rapidly, but he kept himself fairly steady until he flushed the bird. Then his gun flew up too quickly, and he did n't wait to take aim. Of course he missed, but he quickly recovered himself and did better with the left barrel, bringing down the game. Snip retrieved the bird and was fetching it in, when suddenly he stopped and pointed with the game in his mouth. This was a very rare exhibition of scenting power. Hugh flushed the bird from the stubble and weeds. It rose almost vertically and flew right over his head in the direction toward which his back was turned. Tiie shot was a difficult one at best, but Hugh turned cpiickly and pulled first the right-hand 42 BOYS' BOOK OF SB OUT S. trigger, then the left-hand one. The gun failed to fire. He looked, and found that he had forgotten to reload ! Snip seemed disappointed. His eyes turned in(iuiriugly toward Hugh's face, as if to say : '' That was a poor response to my splendid performance ! " Hugh acknowledged to himself that here was another result of his impetuosity and carelessness. " I shall learn something after a while, if I keep on trying," lie thought, as he opened the breech of his gun and slipped in the shells. Meantime, Neil had been having some fine luck. His coolness and carefulness excited the admiration of Uncle Charley and Mr. Marvin. In fact, he hit nearly as often as he missed, and when the shooting was over, his game-bag held seven birds. They all returned to camp at about one o'clock. Uncle Charley invited ]Mr. Marvin to dine with him. WhUe the meal lasted, the boys were entertained with an account of a cunning method of trapping singing-liirds for the market. " I met a young fellow once," said Mr. Marvin, " who was catching singing- birds for the market. Mocking-birds, cardinal-grosbeaks, orioles, and many other kinds of beautiful wild-birds were snared by him in a curious trap, wliich consisted of a triangular cage with a spring in the form of a wing of thread netting having a wire rim. His method of trapping was to put a live bii-d of the kind he wished to catch, say an orchard-oriole, in the body of the triangular cage. Then he would take the cage into an orchard or grove and hang it to a bough of a tree in a cozy, leafy place where a bii-d would be likely to alight and sing. He would then draw down the wungs of the cage until they were spread out almost horizontally on each side, where they were held in place by a jointed drop-trigger. He would now go away to some distance, and from a secret hiding-place watch for the result. As soon as it was left alone the bird in the cage would begin to chirp and call. Then, from somewhere in the grove or orchard would come an answer ; nearer and nearer would sound this new voice, and at last a gleam of gay wings and a delicate rustling of tiny feathers would mark the victim's arrival at the cage. For a time the new-comer would hop around on the boughs near the trap, twittering and peering, and finally down it would settle on the drop-trigger, to be instantly caught by the net of the drop-wing. The young man made (piite a snug salary at this business ; but I did not like it. There was a refinement of cruelty and treachery about the method that repelled me. Let the bright wee little fellows remain free to sing in the leafy groves and orchards, I say ; for they are half the color and beauty of every wild landscape. I think there 's a vast difference between a market-hunter and a song-bird-trapper." 'lu leafy groves and orchards. 44 BOYS' BOOK OF SPORTS. IX. A NEW PROSPECT OPENS TO THE BOYS. A FEW more days spent on the prairie in delightful tramps and instruetive conversation with Mr. Mar\dn, and the hunt was ended. Uncle Charley declared the time up, and gave orders to have the tents struck and the wagons made ready for the return to the village. Before separating, however, Mr. Marvin and Uncle Charley held a long con- sultation, the result of which was an arrangement for a winter's campaign in the finest game regions of Georgia and Florida. Uncle Charley promised Neil and Hugh that he would try to prevail upon their father to let them go along with him. '• If he will let you go," continued Uncle Charley, '' I will buy you each a good gun and a complete outfit." Hugh fairly Ixnmded for joy, and Neil's face grew rosy with his great delight. They bade Mr. Marvin good-bye, with a great hope of meeting him a month or two later ; and then, with their faces set toward home, they drove off across the rolling prairie. Those had been happy days, and the boys, all sunburned and ruddy with health, were now anxious to get back to their father and the young friends with whom they associated in the village. Their mother had been dead for some years ; consequently, their father was much more to them than a father usually is. The horses seemed to know that they were going home. They pricked up their ears and jogged willingly along, neighing shrilly, now and then, as they saw other horses in the distance. At one farmer's home our friends stopped awhile to watch a windmill grind apples for cider. The apples were scarcely ripe, but the cider was sweet and very refreshing. A little bright-eyed girl brought them a pitcherful of the pure juice and a tumbler to drink it from. " You can drink all you want to, for it is not fermented and can not intoxicate you," she said, smiling untU her berry-brown cheeks were all full of dimples. A big vellow dog came out and tried to get up a quarrel with Belt and Don, but the good-natured bird-dogs refused to be offended or show any ill-breeding. The highwav was soon reached; but the recent rain had laid the dust, so that It was pleasant to go along between the hedges in the long straight lanes, with fields of corn or grass on either hand and a cloudless sky overhead. Beautiful dusky green woods appeared in the distance, and before long they were again MARVIN AND HIS BOY HLN'TERS. 45 in the timbered eountry. The bluebirds and red-headed w«)odi)eekers and pewee fly-catchers flew ahead of them from stake to stake of the worm-fences wliidi now bounded the lanes. Crows flew overhead cawiiij,' luii-sldy, and tlic ficld- s])arrows sang in the timothy-stul)ble. Till" l)oys' hearts jumped when at last the cliui-cli sjiircs and painted i-oofs of the home village came in sight. As they drove up to the front gate of their home, Mr. Burton saw Ihcm from his library window, and came limping down the carriage-way to meet thcin, ''Why, you are almost as black as little Hottentots!" he exclaimed, lookin^^ at their sunbrowned faces. '■'■ But we 've had a glorious time," said Hugli. " I never did enjoy anytliiiig so much. And, Papa, we wish to go home with Uncle Charley, and liunt in the South this winter, and he 's going to buy us guns and everything, — are n't you, Uncle Charley f " '■'■ I should think, from your looks, that you have had hunting eiiougli for one season, at least," said Mr. Burton. " Have they l)een reasonably good bovs, Charles?" " Oh, yes," said Uncle Charley, '• they hav(i behaved in a very creditable way. I am proud of them." Weeks passed before Neil and Hugh were tired of recounting to their young- friends in Belair their many ])leasing and their few thrilling adventures on the great prairie. Neil fully believed that they would go South with Uncle Charley and 3Ir. Marv-in, and, with his usual foresight and philosophical prudence, sent for a book on wing-shooting, and fell to studying it carefully. He also renewed his readings in natural history. But Hugh was so full of fun and so restless, that he avoided any close application to study. " I am resolved," said Neil, " to know all I can abont the haunts and halnts of game, as well as about the best methods of hunting and shooting. Whatever is worth knowing and doing is worth knowing and doing well." He also took an old blunderbuss out of the garret, and, althougli it had no lock, he used it to practice aiming. This exercise accustomed his hands, arms, and eyes to work in concert, a thing of prime importance in wing-shooting. Uncle Charley observed Neil's close application to the study of the matter in hand, but he said nothing. He knew that it meant success. He had arranged wdth Mr. Burton for the boys to go South with him, and had sent for their guns, which were to be made to order. He had also agreed to pay Mr. Marvin a sum of money sufficient to compensate him for the loss of the autumn shooting on the Kankakee, in order that he might go South early enough to make everything ready for a whole winter in the field. Mr. Marvin came to Belair on the same day that the boys' new guns arrivinl by express from New York. The guns were indeed beauties, just alike, 46 BOYS' BOOK OF SPOUTS. ■«-- Getting ready for a winter in the field. weighing six and a half pounds each, sixteen-bore, Damascus barrels, with low hammers and pistol-grip stocks; in fact, the very finest little guns that the manufacturers covild make. ''You're patriotic boys," said Mr. Marvin, after examining the weapons; " you go in for American guns, do you?" " I think our American work is quite equal to that of the English now," said Uncle Charley, " and these guns are recommended as very close, hard shooters." " So they are, and cheap. An English gun of their grade would have cost at least three hundred dollars." " Are n't they beauties, thought" cried Hugh, dancing around with his gun in his hand. "I 'm going to name mine 'Falcon,' because it will be such a bird- destroyer ! What shall you name yours, Neil ? " "Mine shall be anonvmous," said Neil, '' but it will do good work, all the " When shall we stai-t to go South, Uncle Charley .' " (pieried the always impatient Hugh. " Some time next week, i)erhaps," was the reply ; " arc you in a hurry ? " iMARVIX AXD HIS BOY HUNTERS. 47 " Yes, indeed ! " exclaimed Hugh, " I want to l)e off just as soon as possible ! " " The first thing to do is to target those new guns," said Mr. Marvin. ''What is targeting a gun f " inquired Hugli. "I'll show you," said Mr. Marvin. He took some white sheets of printei-'s paper, large enough to hold a circle thirty inches in diameter drawn Avith a pencil. In the center of the circle he made a small black spot. "Now," said he, " we shall see what kind of pattern the guns will niakf. It they are good or bad, we shaU soon know it." They took a dozen or so of these paper targets and went beyond the town limits,' where they placed them one at a time against the side of an old disused barn. Each barrel of the two guns was fired at a separate target, at the distance of forty yards, with shells loaded with three drams of i)0wder and one ounce of number eight shot. "These are most excellent guns," was Mr. Marvin's decision, after giving them a careful test. " See how evenly and how closely together they distribute their shot with the left barrels, and how nicely the right barrels scatter the shot a little wider. Yes, young gentlemen, you have first-class g-uns." " But why are the right barrels made to scatter wider ? " inquired Hugh. " Because you shoot that barrel first and usually at short range, while you keep your left barrel for the second shot, which is nearly always at long range," replied Mr. Marvin. Neil had found this out long ago from his reading. All the boys in Belair soon discovered that Neil and Hugh had fine guns, and this fact was the subject of lively conversation among them. And when the news of the proposed Houthern trip leaked out our young friends were the heroes of the village. Neil and Hugh had to answer hundreds of questions, and tell their plans over and over again to their less fortunate playmates. And so at length the eagerly expected time arrived. 48 BOYS' BOOK OF SPORTS. X. AWAY T(^ THE SOUTH ! WHEN the time came for the departure for the South, and everythiug had been packed and sent to the railway station, Mr. Burton gave his boys over into the care of Uncle Charley and Mr. Marvin. His last words to Neil and Hugh were : '' Be good boys ; and do be careful how you handle your guns." Quite a number of the playmates and school-fellows of Neil and Hugh gathered at the station to see them off. The boys promised to send them specimens of birds, alligators' teeth, and other trophies of their prowess. " Good-bye, Neil," cried George Roberts, just as the engine whistled to start ; ''think of me every time you bang away at anything ; try and get enough fun for both of us." ''All riglit," replied Neil, and then the train began to move. All tlie l)oys took off their hats and cheered lustily. Neil and TTugli waved their handkereliiefs as long as they couUl see tlie station. They had seats in a palace sleeping-car which would go througli to Nashville, Tennessee. This gave them a fine opportunity to see the country through which MARVIN AND HIS BOY JfrNTEBS. 49 they went, and, altlious' '^y^^^Jt^^j^^. A grand flij^bt of doves. 52 BOY::!' BOOK OF SPOUTS. Hugh climbed over the fence aud stood peepiug through a crack, trembling and jjantiug. The bull was striking the gun with its foot and knocking it about as if it were a straw. Mr. Marvin, hearing the boy's wild screams, ran to the spot as quickly as he could, but Judge outran him aud reached Hugh just in time to see the bull break the stock of the gun short off at the pistol- %t ,♦/- f " Hugh iiung down his jsnin and ran hack to the fence." gri}). Judge did not stop at the fence, but scrambled over it, and, rushing np, drove the bull away and picked up the shattered weapon, which he In-ought back to where Hugh and Mr. Marvin stood. " Dat 's a mighty much ob a pity, Mahs' Hugh," said the negro, rolling his big white eyes commiseratingly, " What yo' gwine to do Miont dis purty gun, now ? " Hugh could not speak. His voice stuck in his throat, and his lii)S wore purjilc with excitement and distress. Mr. Marvin looked very much disappointed. He took the mutilated gun in his hands and examined it in silence. Neil came np and joined the solemn group. "Why, what 's the trouble ?" he inijuired. '' De bull 's smashed de young boss's new gun all to bits," said Judge. " He was just a-pawin' it an' a-pawin' it when I got lieah. ^lalis' ITugli 's de 'fraidest boy I ebber see, an' dat 's a fac' ! " .l/.iy,'l7.V Ay J) Ills BOY HUNTERS. 53 "Well, the hai-ni 's done/' said Mr. Marvin, "and it can't l.e h.-lped now." They formed a doleful procession as they trudged homeward in silence across the fields. Hugh felt that all his dreams of sport were at an end. He looked at Neil's bright, clean gun, and then atlas own battered and broken weai)on. The tears would force their way out of his eyes in spite of all he could do, " I suppose it is n't right to kill doves," lie said, at last, regretfully. " It is n't right to fling down a fine gun and run away every time you hear a bull bellow!" exclaimed Mr. Marvin, rather gruffly. " I slxmld like to know what you 'd do if you should see a bear or an alligator ! " " Dat chile 'ud jes' break his neck a-runnin'," said Judge. " I hate to have Uncle Charley know I have broken my gun," muttei-ed Hugh. " De bull broke dat gun ; you did n't break it," said Judge. '' I think it can be mended," renuxrked Neil. "A gunsmith could put a piece of silver around the broken place and fasten it so that it would be nearly as nice as before." '' Oh, do you think so ? " cried Hugh. " Oh, but I do hope it can be done ! I will never be careless again if I can have my gun all right once more." Uncle Charley was surprised, but he spoke kindly to Hugh, and said he Avould see what could be done. Next day he took the gun away to a neighboring town and left it with a gunsmith to be mended. When it was brought back, the silver splice had engraved upon it the following words: '■'■Always keep cool.''^ The work had been very neatly done, and the weapon was really quite as good and as handsome as it had been before it was broken. Hugh's spirits immediately revived, and he was just as happy as ever. 54 BOYS' BOOK OF SPORTS. XI. AROl'ND A CAMP-FIRE. IT was on a l)eautif ul November day, almost as warm as in September, that our friends started from Uncle Charley's house to make an excursion into North Georg:ia to shoot quail and wild turkeys, or whatever other seasonable game could be found. A big Tennessee wagon, covered with a roofing of white cotton cloth, and drawn by two strong mules, was to be the pack vehicle. It was driven and managed by an old colored man named Samson, Avhose hair and beard were like white wool. A long-bodied hack, or road-wagon, with three seats in it, and covered with oil-cloth, had been fitted up for the hunters to ride in. Judge was to drive this equipage, which was drawn by two of Uncle Charley's beautiful work-horses. The dogs were to go in the big wagon with Samson and the stores. The mountain region of East Tennessee and North Georgia is one of the most charming countries in the world. The valleys are warm and fertile, lying between high ranges of blue mountain-peaks and green foot-hills covered with groves of pines and cedars, oaks and hickory trees. The air is pure and healthful and the water is the best that cold mountain springs can afford. Vast tracts of this region are so broken up with ravines, abrupt hills, and rugged cliffs of rock, that they are not fit for agriculture, and consequently are not inhabited, save by hardy hunters, trappers, or nut-gatherers. Here and there, in the wildest parts of the mountain ranges, are found what are called ''pockets''; these are small valleys, or dells, walled in by the cliffs, and are usually garden- spots of fertility, where are found families of settlers who live peaceful, quiet lives, entirely shut off from the rest of the world. The first day after leaving Uncle Charley's farm, our friends traveled al)out forty miles, reaching the foot-hills of a range of mountains close to the northern line of Georgia. They had crossed some large streams and passed over some outlying spurs of another mountain range, and were now ready to begin tlie ascent of the lofty ])ile before them. They pitched their tents beside a clear spring just as darkness began to gather in the woods. On one side of them rose a steep escarpment of broken cliffs; in every other direction a dense forest of junes, undergrown witli buslu's and vines of various sorts, stretched away gloomy and silent. Judge built a fire while Samson was feeding the animals, and then the two went to work to get supper. They broiled slices of ham and baked a hoe-cake, 3rAJiVJX AM) HIS BOY lirXTERS. 55 made a pot of coffee, and roasted some potatoes and apples. The flarinji: yellow flaraes from the pine-knots that Judge had put <»n the fire threw a wnvei-inii- light far out among the dusky trees, and the Hlaek .smoke i-ollcd li^litly u]) among the overhanging boughs. They all were very hungry. There is nothing like tlx' iiKnnitiiiii aii- to whet one's appetite. Any food seems to taste much better out in tlic woods than it does at home. ^'I should think there might be l)ears in these mountains," said Hugh, as he leisurely sipped his coffee, " and deer, too." '^ There are some deer, and there may be a few black bears," said Unele Charley, '^ but they are too scarce and shy to be hunted with profit. AN'ild cats are plentiful, however, in all this region." '' I should like to see a wild cat," said Hugh, '' What does it look like?" '' Very like a common gray house-cat, only two or three times as large, and it has a larger head in proportion to its body and a short tail. It is a savage creature and very dangerous at times. The claws and teeth are long and sharp, and it is very muscular and powerful." " Do wild cats ever attack people f " inquired Hugh, helj)ing himself to another roasted apple. *' I have heard of such a thing," said Uncle Charley, '* and I should n't care to meet one at close (piarters, especially if it were wounded." " I want to hunt something dangerous and have some adventures wortli talking about," said Hugh. << Why, yoiu' bull adventure was stirring and dangerous enough, was n't it?" growled ]Mr. Marvin over his plate of ham. '' That bull looked dangerous, anyway ; and, besides, if I 'd stoinl still and it had gored me, you would have said I was foolish for not running." '* Yes, but you threw down your gun ; that was what I blamed you for," said Mr. Marvin. "It's a rule among good soldiers never to drop their guns. A hunter should follow the same rule." When supper was over, they all sat in a circle around the fire listening to hunt- ing-stories by Uncle Charley and Mr. Marvin. Even old Samson crept \\\) near enough to hear, while he smoked his cob pipe with great show of satisfaction. Mr. Marvin's best story was about a panther-hunt in a jungle of the Florida everglades. He was describing how, in the course of the hunt, he chanced to come suddenly face to face with the panther, which was crouching on a mass of boughs and vines about ten feet above the ground. Old Samson. 56 BOYS' BOOK OF SPOUTS. " I was carrying a double-barreled gun/' lie said, " of which one barrel was a rifle, the other for shot. I saw the savage beast just as it was making ready to spring upon nie. I l)elieve I- felt very much like doing as Hugli did when the bull came bellowing toward him ; Ijut the trouble in my case Avas that I coiilil not run. I was hemmed in by strong bushes and vines. So I summoned all my uerve power and raised my gun to take aim. Just as I did so the panther leaped straight toward me." At this point in Mr. Marvin's narration, and as if to sharply emphasize the climax, there came from the woods right behind Hugh a wild shriek altogether startling in its loudness and harshness. Hugh sprang to his feet and leaped clear over the fire. " Ugh ! O-oli ! what was that f " he cried, his eyes seeming to start almost out of his head. Old Samson laughed aloud and said : " Bress yo', ehile, dat nuffin' but an ole owl ; he 's not gwine ter hurt ye ! " '•' I think we '11 have to send you home, Hugh," said Uncle Charley ; '' you '11 never do for one of our party if you keep on in this way." Hugh crept back to his place, and Mr. Marvin resumed his story : '' I fired both barrels point-blank at that brute as it sailed through the air. aud at the same moment I dropped flat upon the ground, thinking that the pan- ther would go beyond me before it struck. But I reckoned wrongly ; it came right down upon me, almost crushing me. My legs were tangled in some briery vines and my right arm was doubled under me. The panther struggled terribly, tearing the ground Avith its feet on each side of me, uttering at the same time a sort of gurgling growl. It was very heavy, and my position made its weight seem double what it really was. I tried to throw it off, but my strength was not sufficient. With another hard struggle it died there, lying across my back. If my legs had not been so badly tangled I could have got out from under the dead brute. As it was, I could do nothing but lie there aud halloo. It was not the weight so much as my cramped and tangled situation that held me down. To add to the terror of my predicament I heard the panthei-'s mate scream in the jungle close by. My hunting companions were beating about somewhere in the neighborhood, but I could not hear them. I screamed like a steam-whistle, but no answer came. It was then that I suddenly realized the awful possibilities of my situation. If my companions were out of hearing, how could I ever get help ? As I lay there, I could see for some distance along an opening in the undergrowth to where a big cypress tree grew at the edge of a little pond. The other panther leaped a few feet up the bole of this tree aud screanu'd again. That was to me the most terrific sound I ever heard. Just then it struck me that I must go systematically to work to free myself. I lay (juite still for a time, thinking. Then I began working my feet out of the tangle of vines. It was hard work, but I persevered aud finally succeeded. 58 JBOy.S"' BOOK OF isroHTs. Then by a strong: effort I freed my right arm, and, turning myself a little, I rolled the panther off me. The next thing I did was to load both barrels of my gun, for I could now hear the other sav^age beast growling close by in the jungle. Fear made me alert and steady. Soon I saw a pair of eyes glaring at me not more than two rods away. I took deliberate aim and fii-ed both barrels, sending a ball and nine large buckshot to the spot between those eyes. That was a great adventure for me. I never have known another man who has killed two full-grown panthers on the same day. My companions had heard my firing, and came to me. There lay my two royal en.emies dead within a few feet of each other and each shot in the face. But from that day to this I never liave had the slightest desire to hunt panthers." " Yo' not gwine ketch dis darky a-fooliu' wid deni painters," said Samson ; " I jes' gwine keep my ole carkige onten dar way. If dey wants me fur meat, dey 's got ter cotch me fust — dey has, fur a fac' ! " *' If ye starts to run f'om 'em, ye done gone \\\) right den," remarked Judge, "for dey ketch ye sho'. Dem painters kin run like lightnin'." " Like to know wha' you learn so much 'bout dem beastes," said Samson con- temptuously ; " you neber been nowha' nur no place in yo' life. Bet yo' turn dem eyes wrong side out 'ards ef yo' see a painter wid 'em ! " " Doan ye fret yo'self, Uncle Samson," said Judge, " when de painter come I '11 be dar, an' he '11 git a dose he doan want — shoot 'em, sho' 's ye born ! " " Yah, yah, yah ! " laughed Samson, as he began refilling his pipe from a twist of tobacco, ''yah, yah, yah! you gwHne to shoot painters, is ye ! yah, yah, yah ! you woulden' make more'n one good mouf-full for a good-sized painter — you woulden'." It was now time to go to bed, so Uncle Charley ordered Samson and Judge to their wagon in which they were to sleep. Mr. Marvin rolled himself in his blankets and lay down by the fire, a way of resting he preferred to being cramped in a tent, especially when the weather was so drj\ At about eleven o'clock the moon came up in the east, filling the woods with a pale light that flickered on the gray mountain cliffs like a silver mist. The big horned owl that had so scared Hugh came and perched itself upon the top of a dead jjine near the camp, giving forth now and then its j)eculiar, wild cry. As it sat upon the highest spire of the tree, it looked double its real size, out- lined against the clear gray sky. It would turn its large head from side to side, as if keei)ing a vigilant outlook for danger. Hugli aw(.'ke froni a sweet sleep and heard the owl. He clianei'd to renienil)er that his father had long wanted a stuffed owl for liis li1)rary. Why would n't it be just as well to get this one for him ? Very slyly and (juietly Hugh arose and put on his cl()thes. Slipping his gun from its case and loading it with heavy-shotted cartridges, he stole noiselessly 3IAIiVlX AN J) JUS HOY lU'NTERS. 59 out of the tent. Every cue else was sleepiuf,^ lOveii Samson's big yellow 'coon doii', that lay under the wagon, did not seem to awake. Hugh crouched and crept along under cover of a small cedar ])usli until he got within long range of the owl ; then, taking aim as best he could, he fired. What a noise that gun did make in the still forest ! The report went bellowing off in the distance, and then, flung back by some echo-making cliff or hollow, re- turned with mellow, fragmentary rattling. The dogs began to bark, the horses and mules snorted, old Samson leaped out of his wagon, Mr. Mar- vin sprang from his sound sleep beside the embers of the fire. In fact, there was a gen- eral alarm in the camp. XII. OVER THE MOUNTAIN. TTTHEN Hugh fired, the owl came tumbling down from its lofty perch, T V flapping its wings as it fell. That was a good shot, and Hugh felt a thrill of gratification and pride as he saw the effect of it. He ran to the spot where the great bird lay, and hastily picked it up. Immediately he screamed with pain and tried to drop it ; but it had seized his hand with its beak and talons and would not let go. " ! O ! !" he cried, '' it 's killing me ! it 's kill- ing me ! O Uncle Charley ! Mr. Marvin ! come here, quick ! " The owl was not much hurt, the tip of one wing having been T)i-oken. Its strong hooked beak and its long talons were piercing Hugli's hand cruelly. The pain was almost unbearable. Mr. Marvin seized his gun and ran to the spot, expecting to find a bear or a catamount tearing Hugh to pieces. Uncle Charley, Neil, and Samson snatched up whatever weapon was nearest and hurriedly joined Mr. Marvin. But by the time they had all collected arovind Hugh, he had choked the owl to death with his free hand. The bird had given him some ugly scratches, how- ever, and his face looked ghastly pale in the moonlight. Fortunately no arteries or large veins had been pierced by tlic owl's talons or beak. Samson, who was not a bad doctor in affairs of this kind, l)ound up Hugh's wounds, and they did not afterward give him much ti-()ul)k'. 60 BOYS' BOOK OF SPORTS. Next morniiiir. ]Mr. Marvin skinned the owl and ])acked the .skin away for mounting-. The party resumed their journey, and at once began following a zigzag road that led up the steep side of the mountain they had to cross. Neil preferred to walk. He was keeping a diary of all that happened and of what he saw and heard. Being nimble of foot, he was easily able to keep ahead of the wagons, and whenever he saw a new plant or tree or some rare bird, he would sit down upon a stone beside the road and write a description of it in his book. He could draw a little, too, and he made sketches, as best he could, of such objects and bits of landscape as he thought might be interestingly described in a more comprehensive account of their journey, which he meant to prepare at his leisure. There were not many birds ou the mountain, but Neil had a good opportunity to note the appearance and habits of the plicated woodpeckei-, a bird very rare in the Middle and Western States. It is next to the largest of American wood- peckers, being nearly the size of a crow, almost black, with, a tall scarlet crest on the back of its head. The mountaineers call it log-cock, because it is so often seen pecking on rotten logs in the woods. It makes its nest in a hollow which it digs in decaying tree-boles. When our friends i-eached the top of the mountain, they found a fine grove of chestnut trees loaded with their opening burrs. Samson, Hugh, and Judge gathered a large bagful of the nuts and put them in the wagon. Neil climbed to the toj) of a great stone-pile from which he had a grand view of the surrounding country, for miles and miles. He could see beautiful valleys and shining streams, cozy farm-houses and scattering villages, while far off, against the horizon in every direction, rose an undulating line of blue mountains. It was late at night when they reached a good camping-place among the foot- hills on the Georgia side. Thej^ all were very hungry and tired. The smell of broiling bacon and steeping coffee soon filled the dew^^ air. A small cold mountain-brook bubbled along beside the tents, and not far off was the log cabin of a family of mountaineers. '' We are near to the quail country now," said Uncle Charley, '' and I think we may count upon some good shooting to-morrow. The valley just below us is covered with farms, and no one ever comes there to hunt." '' But will the farmers let us shoot their birds f " incpiired Neil, who recollected the angry remonstratious of some of the prairie folk against the shooting of grouse. " O, yes," said Uncle Charley; ^* these mountain people are the most hos- pitable and accommodating folk you ever saw. Their leading thought, so long as we stay among them, will be to make us thoroughly enjoy ourselves." Samson announced supper. All were quite ready to do justice to the meal he had prepared, and they were busily engaged in eating, when a man and two 3IAliVIN AXJ) Ills J!()Y UrXTERS. 61 boys approached tlioin, Ix'arinu' rtaiiiiiiu' torclK's made of loiiu' s])liiitt'rs of piti-li- pine. ''Hello, straugers, liow d'ye do?" exclniiiM'd the man in a hearty, friendly voice. " Good-evening/' said Uncle Charley, very cordially. ''Seein'yonr fire down here, I thought that mebbe you'd like to join in a little fun up the hollow," said the stranger. " Well, what is the fun '? " inquired Uncle Charley. " My old dog Bounce has treed a 'coon up the hollow, and we 're just going to cut the tree. Can't you come and go along ? " The man, as he spoke, took an ax from his shoulder aiul rested it on the ground by his feet. "Don't you hear the dog baying?" he added. Sure enough, the hoarse mouthing of a cur came echoing from the de])ths of the wood. " Ef you 're shoor dat it 's a 'coon," said Samson, " why, den I "d like ter go." " So would I ! " said Hugh. " Well, it 's a 'coon," said the man. '' Old Bounce does n't bark for anytliing but coons or wild cats. It might possihly be a wild cat." Mr. Marvin said he thought that he would go, too, as he had n't seen a 'coon fight for a great many years. Uncle Charley, Neil, and Judge preferred to stay at the camp. Neil wanted to write a letter to his father before going to l)ed. Uncle Charley was tired, and Judge was sleepy. The torches, as they were borne away through the woods, made the men and boys who kept within their light look like restless specters. If Neil had known what an exciting event w^as about to happen, up in that little hollow, he would not have staid in camp as he did. He presently heard the sound of an ax ringing on solid timber, and, after a long while, a great tree fell to the ground with a loud crash. Then there arose a perfect bedlam of voices. The yelp- ing of a dog was mingled with shouts and screams and a sound as of some savage animal snarling and fighting. Uncle Charley sprang to his feet and listened. ''It is a wild cat," he said, "and it is 'punishing' that dog terril)ly. Just listen ! What a fight they 're having ! " They could hear Hugh's clear voice and Samson's loud shouts mingling with the general din. '' Is there any danger "? Do you think Hugh will get hurt ? '' exclaimed Neil, whose first thought was for the safety of his brother. Uncle Charley did not at once reply. He w^as too much absorbed in listening to the exciting racket. " Let 's go to them," continued Neil ; " they may need help.'' " It 's too far," said Uncle Charley ; " we could not get there in time to be of auv service." And, even as he spoke, the noise began to subside. 62 BOYS' BOOK OF SPORTS. '' They 've killed it, or it has escaped," Uucle Charley continued; "they'll he coming back directly. It mnst have been a hard fight while it lasted, and very exciting, too, for I heard Marvin yell loudly once or twice." '' I wish I had gone along," said Neil, moving restlessly about ; " I would n't have missed it for anything." '' If it was a wild cat, and I think it was," said Uncle Charley, " it must have escaped. I don't think they could have killed it in so short a time. There was n't a gun in the party, and I know, from the way the dog howled, that the victory was not due to him ; he was whipped." " Why did n't Mr. Marvin and Hugh take their guns ? I never heard of such carelessness!" said Neil, adding anxiously: "Perhaps some one of them is badly hurt." After long waiting, Uncle Charley and Neil at last saw the flash of torches. "A good ciimpiug-pliicu ou thu Uoorgia side." JIAh'VIX AM) HIS HOY lirXTEBS. 63 XIII. SAMSON DESfHIBES THE BATTLE. '^ ~f~^E ge'man brag about his dog- all de way up dar," Samson said in an nnder- I J tone as he came up to Uncle Charley and Neil, quite a distance in advance of the others, " but it '11 s'prise me ef he brag any mo' shortly ! Dat dog done got all he want ob dat varmint, I tell yon. Yo' orter seed de ha'r an' fuz fly outen dat dog. Howl ! dat word don't rightly 'spress de fac' ; he more 'n howled, he jist naterally squaUed. De varmint cleaned 'im up in less 'an no time ! I neber see sech a scrimmage ! Eberybody run ober eberybody, an' de varmint a-flyin' round like a regular tiger, a-snappin' an' a-clawin' at ebery- thing it seed ! Yo' orter seed dat man a-cavorting round de dog w'en de varmint was a-chawiu' ob it up. 'Peared like de man 'lowed dat dog could n't be got away wid no how ! Bress my po' soul, Imt it was oudacious how dat dog bawled ! " At this point in Samson's monologue, the rest of the party of 'coon-hunters came up, all of them more or less excited. The tall, strong mountaineer carried a dead wild cat strung upon a pole. ''Ah, you killed it, did you f" exclaimed Uncle Charley. '' Y-e-s, the boy kiUed it," replied the man ; " he knocked it on the head with a light'd knot.'' The man alluded to Samson when he said '' boy." Southern men usually call all colored men boys. ''■ Malls' Hugh ud 'a' been a gone chile ef I had n't 'a' knocked de varmint,'' said Samson. '' How was thatf " demanded Uncle Charley with a look of alarm. " Was it after Hugh ? " exclaimed Neil, excitedly. " Oh, it was a-bowsin' around an' a-snappin' an' a-clawin', an' Mahs* Hugh he dim' a tree up a little ways, an' de dog was a-howlin' at a great rate, an' I was a-pouudin' away at the varmint, an' it dim' de tree, too, an' nearly cotch up wid Mahs' Hugh afore he got six feet high up de tree, an' Mahs' Hugh he was a-squeechin' powerful, an' den I whack'd it on de head an' down it came ! Den dat dog he got berry sabbage all to once, seein' dat de varmint wus kickiu' its last, an' he got braver an' lu'aver, an' fell to fightin' it like mad. But dat var- mint had done gib dat dog 'nuff fore dat, I tell ye ! " " Hit 's the biggest catanoun I ever seed," said the mountaineer. " The biggest what ?" inquired Neil, very innocently. '' Catanoun," said the man: " did n't ve ever see one afore?" 64 BOYS' BOOK OF SPOUTS. Uncle Charley took occasion to whisper in Neil's ear: " He means catamount; don't laugh at him." " I never saw a live one before this," Neil responded very respectfully. '' They 's lots of 'em up in the hills/' said the man, " but they don't often ventur' down this fur." ^* But when dey do ventur' down," i)ut in Samson, Avith a comical twist to his funny old face, ^' when dey do ventur' down dey 's rough on dogs ! " '' I tell you, I felt scared when the thing started up the tree after me ! '' said Hugh, shrugging his shoulders at the thought. " It was n't after you," said Mr. Marvin, " it was only trying to get away from Samson's pine-knot." " Well, I did n't want it to climb over me to get away," said Hugh. '^ He dim' ober dat dog " began Samson. " Be quiet, Samson," muttered Uncle Charley, "you 've said enough about the dog." " Oh, let the boy hev 'is say," exclaimed the mountaineer good-naturedly ; " the cat did most onmarcifully chaw Ole Bounce up in onreasonable short order." Samson chuckled, but said nothing more until after the man and his boys were gone. Next morning, our friends descended into the valley and pitched their tents among the fertile farms. A railway crossed the lower end of this valley, where there was a small village and a station from which Mr. Marvin could ship his game. The camping-place was beside a deep, narrow little river, or ri\'ulet, the wind- ing course of which through the valley was marked by parallel fringes of plane and tulip trees. The farms were very rich, having that peculiar sort of soil called '' mulatto," in which the famous Georgia red wheat grows to such perfection as it never attains elsewhere. Here the blue jays, cardiiuil-grosbeaks, brown thrushes, and crested fly- catchers were found by Neil. Gray squirrels, already growing scarce in the Western States, seemed to be quite plentiful in this region, and were the only small game hunted by the farmers, whose long flint-lock rifles were quite inter- esting to Neil and Hugh. Judge was sent to the neighboring village, that afternoon, to get some needed supplies, and to post some letters, among which was a long one from Neil to his father. Since they had crossed the moimtains and descended into Georgia, they noticed a certain sweetness and warmth in the air, and even at that late season the sky had a summer-like tenderness of color. Many of the deeiduous trees still retained their leaves, and the fanners were in llic midst of wheat-sowing. MAliVIN AND HIS BOY HUNTERS. 65 Neil and Hugh were surprised to see boys smaller than Hugh plow- ing in the fields or " shuck- ing" corn. Every one, old and younir, seemed happy, industrious, and contented. Most of the houses were The a^ht with the wild cat. huilt of split logs, with no chinking in the cracks, and covered with clap- hoards. The chimneys were made of sticks of wood built up pen-fashion and covered with mud or clay. In fact, ever3i;hing, even to the trees and ilic wihl flowers, was strange and interesting, especially to Neil. The people were exceedingly kind and hospitable, giving the hunters all the aid in their power. And so their first quail-liiint promised to be all that tlicy t-oiild desire. 66 BOYS' BOOK OF SPOUTS. XIV. a:mong the quails. MR. MARVIN called Neil and Hugh to him and said that he had some direc- tions and instructions to give them. " We are about to begin quail-shooting," he said, " and I think we are going to have rare sport. The game is abundant, the weather fine, and the covert very favorable for fair shooting. Now, you will find that so soon as the quails com- mence to rise you will begin to grow excited. AU I ask of you is that you will promise to be careful with your guns. There is danger of your being so eager to shoot every bird that is flushed that you will not stop to think where your shot may go. You must always remember that the new and improved guns which your uncle gave you shoot very hard and far, and that great sorrow and distress might be caused by the slightest carelessness or mishap. Besides, the habit of coolness and caution, if acquired in j'our boyhood, will prove of the greatest value to you throughout your lives. There is an old adage which says : ' Look before you leap.' A good maxim for the hunter is : ' Look before you shoot.' Not only look at the game, but look beyond it, and be sure that your shot will hit nothing but the object of your aim. " Now, shooting over fenced farms is quite different from shooting on the open prairie. While hunting here in this valley, you will be constantly climbing over fences. You must remember that you are positively forbidden to climb a fence with a load in your gun. It is but the work of a moment to open the Ijreech and take out the shells. So much by way of caution, for the sake of safety. Now, a word or two about the best practice in quail-shooting. This game when flushed rises Avith a suddenness and force that are quite tiwing to the eyes and nerves of young shooters. The sound made by the wings of the bird adds to the startling effect. This is apt to throw you off your guard and render you somewhat confused and uncertain of hand and vision. The quail's flight is very swift, and you must shoot quickly ; but you must also shoot d('lil)erately. Be sure that you flre your right-hand barrel first, as it scatters the shot wider, and reserve your left-hand barrel for the longer range, especially if you wish to make a double wing-shot. " In flushing quail, the bii*d will sometimes rise at your very feet, so to sj^eak, and then there is danger that you will be in too much haste to fire. The 1)est way to prevent random shooting, in such a case, is to wait till your vision has adjusted itself; that is, until you clearly see the direction of the bird's flight. MAliVIX AND HIS BOY HUNTERS. 67 When once you have commaud of your vision, and have ac(iiiii-.ng the first, for they had secretly agreed to get up before daylight and go off to hunt some hares by moonlight, in a little glade not far from camp. This glade was He -wanted to go rabbit huutmg (.^cl} da> MARVIN AND JUS BOY JlUNTKliS. 75 ill tlic inidst of a dense pine wootl, ;iiul Judge avowed that hares always met in a glade to dance on moonlight nights. But they had their troul)le f