78 AMERICAN GAME BIRD SHOOTING. 



a snowy cloth, being laid in the orchard, we sat down to 

 our al fresco repast with a keen sense of pleasure, and 

 partook of it with that feeling of delight which comes 

 from sharp appetites, pleasant company, and charming 

 surroundings. When the heavier jjortion was disposed 

 of, Ave plucked our dessert from the fruit trees that sur- 

 rounded us, and capped the dinner climax by an indul- 

 gence in peaches, cream, and honey. After the dogs and 

 horses had been fed and watered, we retired into the 

 house and remained there until four P. M., then sal- 

 lied forth to wage war anew on the innocent birds. We 

 found them quite abundant, and managed to score so 

 well that by the time we reached home, our opponents 

 had twenty brace, while we had exactly twenty-six and a 

 half. Although the shooting in the evening was not 

 near so good as it had been in the morning, yet it was 

 much pleasanter, for, the birds being scarcer, the dogs 

 had to work harder, and it was then delightful to see 

 how freely they ranged, how steadily they pointed, and 

 how promptly they backed each other, and acted with 

 the precision of machines. Few sights in the field are 

 pleasanter than to see good Prairie Chicken dogs working 

 together, as every point and back is made with auto- 

 matic regularity, and the most high-mettled nervous- 

 ness is toned down by training and experience into action, 

 'which, while spirited, is as steady as that of a veteran 

 under fire. 



After supper I was surprised to see half a dozen coun- 

 try wagons, which were filled wdth matrons, maids, and 

 gallants, drive up to the door. As soon as the occupants 

 alighted they were usliered into the parlor, but they had 

 not had time to get seated ere Miss Lucy rushed in, and, 

 before greeting one of them, burst mto an exclamation of — 



"Oh! girls, Mr. and myself beat papa and the 



Captain to-day by just thirteen chickens, and I've won a 

 pan- of gloves and some other presents from them. " 



