46 AMERICAN GAME BIRD SHOOTING. 



dog having crouched behind us, he was covered with 

 leaves to conceal the light-colored spots on his body. 

 My companion then commenced his endearing calling, 

 and performed his part so well that I decided that if 

 any man could bag an enchanted turkey he could, as he 

 was undoubtedly the chief of yelpers. His call was soon 

 responded to by the rattling cry of a young turkey, 

 which was evidently some distance away. 



"■ I'm going to have that fellow if he comes near 

 here!" exclaimed my new acquaintance, who rejoiced in 

 the name of Hank Greene. 



"I'll bet you ten dollars to one you can't hit the first 

 turkey that comes within twenty yards of you," said my 

 friend. 



" Done!" and a hand shake followed to decide it. 



The yelper then resumed his calling, and soon received 

 a vehement reply from an adult which was not, appar- 

 ently, thirty yards away. His resonant call stirred my 

 blood like a bugle blast, and gave me an excellent idea of 

 one of the causes that makes turkey-hunters so enthusi- 

 astic about the sport. He received no endearing response 

 in return, however, for we were busy loading our guns m 

 hot haste, in order to give him a warm reception when 

 he appeared. Finding that the supposed hen was coy, 

 he flew down from his perch and announced the fact by 

 a loud gobble, and received in answer a soft but distinct 

 yelp. This induced him to make an effort to split his 

 throat, for he poured out volumes of gobbles in rapid 

 succession. 



"That's the enchanted gobbler, I do believe!" ex- 

 claimed my cicerone; "and if he is, you" — motioning 

 his head to Greene — " are to have the first shot, and you 

 (me) tlie second, if he misses." 



Greene laughed at the idea of missing, and the other 

 also chuckled in the most intense manner, as if he 

 thought there was something exceedingly ludicrous in tlie 



