The Wild Turkey 187 



" What time do you think it is ? " I asked, 

 merely to learn how close he could guess, for I 

 had just looked at the ticker. 



" Gone two, I reckon ; we'd best eat," he replied, 

 and I marvelled. 



We did eat, and Joe warmed up, for he had got 

 what he wanted, though from a very small flask. 

 We had brushed away some snow from a log and 

 sat facing, and as he handed back the flask he 

 suddenly stiffened and a gleam of excitement 

 flamed in his steady eyes. He was staring over 

 my head, and he evidently saw something, for his 

 hands closed upon the rifle across his knees. I 

 knew better than to move a hair, or ask fool 

 questions, but as his eyes sought mine they asked 

 a question to which I winked " all right." Slowly 

 the rifle rose to the level till I could see into the 

 muzzle. Few indeed are the men I would trust 

 to that extent, for the piece was cocked, and a 

 premature discharge assuredly would have blown 

 my head off. But I knew my man this time. As 

 slowly as the rifle had moved, my head bent 

 forward till my nose was about level with my 

 belt, and I heard a whispered " All right." 



How long he took to get the old gas-pipe 

 where he wanted it I can only surmise ; it seemed 

 like time for spring ploughing before he pulled. 

 There was an astounding jar, a small but in- 

 tensely lively spark sped down along my spine, 



