438 AMERICAN GAME BIRD SHOOTING 
found than if the ground was bare. They camped 
upon a ridge separating Clear Creek Canyon and some 
of the upper branches of Canyon Diablo, and from 
here we will let Mr. Goldman tell his own story: 
“The first turkey tracks were seen in spots of soft 
soil among the pinons, soon after noon, and others 
we crossed at intervals along the road. Late in the 
afternoon, when near the upper edge of the pinon 
belt, we entered what was evidently the feeding ground 
of a large flock, for many tracks were seen crossing 
the wagon road in several places. This encouraged us 
to camp near here, and when we came to a trail lead- 
ing down into Clear Creek Canyon, and indicating ac- 
cessible water, we did so. After a few hasty prepa- 
rations for the night the camp man was sent to the 
bottom of the canyon, over a mile away, to water the 
horses and fill casks for camp use, while the hunter 
and I started out in opposite directions to look for 
turkeys. I walked slowly and as quietly as possible 
through fairly open pine and pifion woods, following 
a half-circular course in order to avoid going too far 
from camp so late in the day. Many tracks were seen, 
but none of them had been made that day. At the end 
of an hour or so I came to the head of a small side 
canyon, about a mile from camp. The sun had just 
set, and all nature seemed to have gone to sleep. Not 
a sound broke the silence, except the slight, unavoidable 
rustling of my own footsteps among the dry leaves. 
I stopped a moment to listen, and had about decided 
to cut across to camp, when suddenly, from down the 
