MIXUP WITH THE LAUGHERS 221 



tyro. The man who can shoot in such times, 

 without having his bump of excitement stirred 

 through and through, is not a sportsman, but a 

 killer in cool, cold blood, and he had better go 

 home and behead hens. 



It soon became evident that this flock must 

 encounter our friend on the wheat field before 

 they could reach us. As they swung in toward 

 his layout and eased up a little on their wings, 

 Andy turned a disgusted glance at me and — but 

 what he said was proper and fitting under the 

 circumstances. Then suddenly the birds climbed 

 skyward, for they had sized-up the " cast-iron 

 junk," and passed on very high. Of course he 

 fired, and much to our surprise, a goose wriggled 

 a moment, hard hit, and then settled to earth in 

 a quick slant. 



" Must have pushed mighty hard on that old 

 Kildeer ! " — this from the other pit. 



In a short while another large flock worked 

 up over the same course, but crossed the field 

 down wind of our neighbor and headed for us. 



" These are ours, Mack! " 



When Andy pronounces sentences like that on 

 a flock, it is seldom that the law doesn't take its 

 course. But instead of lowering and swinging 



