300 Wild Turkey. 



thorough-breds, and taking the eleven greyhounds, struck 

 off six or eight miles into the plains. Then spreading 

 into line we alternated dogs and horses, and keeping a 

 general direction, beat up the small oak clumps, grass 

 clusters, or mesquite jungles as we went along. Soon, 

 with a loud whirr of wings, three or four turkeys rose 

 out of the grass ahead, started up by one of the grey- 

 hounds ; the rest of the party closed in from all sides ; 

 dogs and men choosing each the bird they marked as 

 theirs. The turkey, after towering a bit, with wings set 

 struck off at a pace like a bullet, and with eyes fixed up- 

 wards the hounds coursed after him. It was whip and 

 spur for a mile as hard as horse, man, and hound could 

 make the pace. The turkey at last came down nearer and 

 nearer the ground, its small wings refusing to bear the 

 weight of the heavy body. Finally, down he came and 

 began running ; then the hounds closed in on him and 

 forced him up again as is always the case. The second 

 flight was not a strong one, and soon he was skimming 

 ten or even a less number of feet from the ground. Now 

 came the sport of it all ; the hounds were bunched and 

 running like a pack behind him. Suddenly old ' Grim- 

 beard,' in the heart of the pack, thought it was time for 

 the supreme effort ; with a rush he went to the front, and 

 as a mighty spring carried him up in the air, he snaped 

 his clean, cruel fangs under the brave old gobbler, who 

 by a great effort rose just out of reach. One after another 

 in the next twenty-five yards each hound made his trial and 

 failed. At last the old hound again made his rush,sprang 

 up a wonderful height into the air, and cut the bird down 

 as with a knife. 



