A WINGED CHUM 193 



Early riser though the pot-hunter was, he was 

 not up before Shan next day. The lad had hardly 

 slept, so eager was he to see his films when they 

 were dry. The sun was not above the horizon 

 when the first negative w^as in the printing frame. 

 By breakfast, they were all done. 



After breakfast, Bull lighted his pipe. 



''Did yo' get finished with that flummery 0' 

 yours!" he asked. 



"Yes," replied Shan. 



''Nothin' come out, eh I" 



His uncle's tone would have discouraged Shan, 

 but for one fact — ho had already seen the prints. 



**I got some pictures," he said. 



''How many different birds can yo' tell on 

 'em?" 



"I've just been taking one bird," replied Shan, 

 and he explained in detail what he had been do- 

 ing, and all about his observation blind. 



The old pot-hunter looked at him disgustedly. 



' ' You-all spendin ' all yo ' time on one bird ! " he 

 said. "With a gun, in one afternoon, I could have 

 got yo' a batch 0' birds, I reckon nigh every bird 

 'round these parts, an' yo' waste a week tryin' to 

 take a picture o' one bird!" 



There was a world of contempt in his tone. 



