64 The Partridge Family 



hand picked up the bird, and a moment later a 

 shot rang out, followed by a cry of, " I got him! " 

 It was a startling revelation, for there was no 

 mistaking act or motive. Nothing was said on 

 either side, but one brain did a deal of thinking. 

 At the end of what otherwise would have been a 

 perfect day, the sole retort was the presentation 

 of the entire bag with the remark, "You value 

 them more than most men, and no doubt can find 

 plenty of use for them." That ended the matter, 

 but never again did the man propose a joint de- 

 bate of the game question. He must have guessed, 

 for he couldn't see. The chances are that he 

 later thought that one grouse rather a high-priced 

 fowl. It was a mighty fine bird, too ! 



NEAR THE END OF THE SEASON 



This is the time beloved of the skilled and 

 vigorous quail-shooter. The birds are at their 

 best — strong, full-feathered, and educated in the 

 hard school of experience. They go to cover 

 like so many cannon-balls, to be stopped only by 

 the man whose eyes and hands work in the most 

 perfect unison. There is a tang to the air which 

 makes a fellow feel like stepping off five miles an 

 hour, while a dog can work hard all day and keep 

 his tongue in his mouth. Scent, as a rule, is of 

 the best ; the leaves are down, so that what a 

 month before was baffling cover is now only suf- 



