A Golden Opportunity 339 



vouchsafed no further information than a state- 

 ment that he knew where there were some birds. 

 In about an hour we were driving smartly down 

 river over an excellent road. We chatted of 

 many things, but I got no information concerning 

 the game. Near Joe's house was a huge pasture, 

 and as we passed this he rose to his feet, and 

 stared over the acres of close-cropped grass. 



" I say — they're there — I sa-ay, we'll get em ! " 

 was his somewhat startling remark. 



I didn't see anything, and ventured, " Get 

 whai ? " 



" G'lang ! " said he to the team, and in a few 

 minutes we pulled up at the gate, where one of 

 Joe's sturdy sons took charge of the nags. 



" I say — hustle now — I sa-ay — hustle ! " re- 

 marked Joe, as he darted into the house for his 

 outfit. 



In brief time we were ready, and he hurried 

 along the road, finally halting at the corner of the 

 big pasture. 



" I say — yonder they be — I sa-ay, yonder they 

 be — a thousand of 'em." 



I looked at what at first glance appeared to be 

 a great, deserted pasture dotted with queer-look- 

 ing tufts of dried weeds. The ground was bone 

 dry, so I knew no late snipe were to be expected. 

 Quail would not remain in such a place during 

 the hours Joe had been away, and I could think 



