2.^,8 



TJic Amcricaii Angler. 



out, and dripping- perspiration fast 

 from their tips. By eleven o'clock we 

 had secured ten birds and were ready 

 to quit. Almost in unison, Fred and 

 myself exclaimed : "I've had enough 

 of this." We g-ave up the shooting and 

 walked back to the hotel. Reaching 

 there, the birds were handed to the 

 darkey to draw, while we went indoors 

 to have a wash-up. After that, while 

 awaiting the getting ready of the team, 

 we had each a milk punch and a 

 cracker. By noon we were on o^^r wa}' 

 back home. It took us longer to reach 

 home than it did going out, for the sun 

 shone with the heat of a furnace in its 

 beams. Nellie was at the gate when 

 we drove up. She says she can tell the 

 sound of Fred's horse and wagon at any 

 time. The birds were equally divided. 

 Nellie and myself urged Fred to remain 

 and take luncheon with us, but he 

 declined. When that luncheon had 

 been discussed by Nellie and myself, I 

 went to my study, determined to go to 



work and make vip for the time I had 

 lost. A cigar was lighted, my papers 

 placed upon the table ready to begin, 

 when I decided to finish my smoke 

 before beginning. I sat down in my 

 easy chair, and was thinking over 

 whether woodcock shooting in summer 

 was wrong or not, when down dropped 

 my head, and Nellie says I was asleep 

 long before that cigar was finished. 

 She said never a word until about half- 

 past six, when she awoke me with the 

 words : 



"Tom, if I were in your place, I 

 think I would dress up a bit for dinner. 

 It will be on the table in half an hour." 



I was disgusted about the work, but, 

 after that dinner, I felt like a new man. 

 Hot as had been the day, hard as had 

 been the work, the exercise in the open 

 air, the change in my siirroundings, 

 had made a new man of me, at least 

 for the time being. Summer shooting 

 may be all wrong, but it did me good. 

 Of that I am sure. 



7fC 



