THE PINNATED GROUSE. 77 



scores stood, as we anticipated being the victors; but as 

 they were nowhere in sight, we concluded to go in search 

 of them. After driving a couple of miles we emerged on 

 a long rolling ridge, from whose crest we saw several car- 

 riages on the prairie below, and their occupants banging 

 away at the birds whenever they had an opportunity. 

 Several of the flushed coveys flew towards us and came 

 so near that we bagged three of their number in less than 

 ten minutes, and wounded a fourth, which escaped. Not 

 being able to see the team of the gentlemen we sought, 

 we decided to drive toward a white farm-house that 

 gleamed amid a dense orchard, about a mile distant, to 

 see if they had passed by there. On aiDproaching it we 

 saw the horses tied to the fence, and our rivals cosily 

 seated under the shelter of the trees, and indulging m 

 iced cider. We soon joined them, and, on comparing 

 notes, learned that the keg of water which they had car- 

 ried in the wagon had leaped out somewhere, presuma- 

 bly while they were trotting over rough ground, and that 

 they had to give up shooting for the lack of that fluid 

 which was so necessary to themselves and their dogs. 

 They had only bagged nine brace of birds, and two of 

 these they had given to the farmer for some water for the 

 setters, so that they had only seven left. Miss Lucy, on 

 hearing this, did not forget to boast of our good fortune, 

 and to taunt them with their want of success; a condition 

 of affairs which she attributed to their execrable shoot- 

 ing and ignorance of the haunts and habits of Prairie 

 Chickens. The Captain was made a special target for 

 her good-natured ^erst^a^'g, and he was given to under- 

 stand that one reason why women utilized every advan- 

 tage they could was their ability to command advantages; 

 an assertion to which he gave his assent in a modified 

 form. 



As luncheon was becoming a matter of importance, 

 the edibles were brought forth, and a table, covered with 



