40 AMEEICAJSr GAME BIED SHOOTING. 



though I looked earnestly in the direction indicated, I 

 could see nothing resembling a turkey. 



While I was peering, I heard the cheerful tzit boom 

 of the gobbler as he struck the ground suddenly with his 

 wings, and strutted about, trying to induce the supposed 

 hen to come out and see him on parade. The caller 

 waited a few minutes to see if the strutter would gobble 

 again, and finding he did not, he gave a low and appeal- 

 ing call, and received in reply a long and throat-splitting 

 roll of liquid sounds, which seemed to come from a small 

 thicket only a few feet to the rear. 



" He's flanking us," whispered the yelper. " You had 

 better retreat now if you don't want him to attack you." 



" I thought you said he would not bite? " I exclaimed. 



"Did I? AYell he seems to be in a mood to bite this 

 morning, for I never before knew him to be so willing to 

 advance." 



** I'll make him bite the dust if he attempts to bite 

 me," I replied. This was greeted by a loud gobble from 

 the turkey, and a suggestion from my comrade that the 

 bird was mocking me; but I disdained to notice such 

 an insinuation. 



" He knows where I am now," he continued, "but I'll 

 have to encourage him a little more;" and suitmg the 

 action to the word, he indulged in two or three soft, endear- 

 ing " keouks." When he finished, he told me to look out 

 for the gobbler, and give him some small shot in the head 

 if he left the thicket. I nodded assent, as I was so agita- 

 ted that I did not dare to trust myself to even whisper; 

 and having loaded one barrel with No. 6 shot, I drew 

 back the hammer of the gun in the most noiseless manner, 

 and poked tlie muzzle through the blind, in order to 

 avoid all possibilities of a miss. 



I was so anxious for the appearance of the expected 

 visitor that every moment seemed to be a minute, but, 



