THE PASSENGER PIGEON IN PENNSYLVANIA 131 



masses, equally wonderful by the rapidity of their mo- 

 tion, and their incredible numbers. 



"A^iong the sportsmen was the tall, gaunt form 

 of Leather-Stocking walking over the field, with his 

 rifle hanging on his arm, his dogs at his heels; the 

 latter now scenting the dead or wounded birds, that 

 were beginning to tumble from the flocks, and then 

 crouching under the legs of their master, as if they 

 participated in his feeHngs at this wasteful and un- 

 sportsmanlike execution. 



"The reports of the fire-arms became rapid, whole 

 volleys rising from the plain, as flocks of more than 

 ordinary numbers darted over the opening, shadowing 

 the field like a cloud — arrows and missiles of every 

 kind were in the midst of the flocks ; and so numerous 

 were the birds, and so low did they take their flight, that 

 even long poles, in the hands of those on the sides of 

 the mountain, were used to strike them to the earth. 



"During all this time Mr Jones, who disdained 

 the humble and ordinary means of destructions used 

 by his companions, was busily occupied, aided by 

 Benjamin, in making arrangements for an assault of 

 more than ordinarily fatal character. There had been 

 found, at Templeton, at its settlement, a small swivel, 

 which would carry a ball of a pound weight. It was 

 thought to have been deserted by a war party of 

 whites, in one of their inroads into the Indian settle- 

 ments. It was somewhat the worse for the service 

 it had performed, it is true, there being but a trifle 

 difiference in size, between the touch-hole and the muz- 



