54: A HECATOMB OF VICTIMS. 



flew before us, pursued by the Indians, who halted as 

 soon as they thought the birds were in want of rest. The 

 same manoeuvre was successfully essayed five times ; and 

 in the end the weary birds, unable to fly any longer, 

 trotted in front of us, supporting themselves on their legs 

 and on the extremities of their wings, but closely pursued 

 by the Indians, who caught them by the neck and killed 

 them on the ground. 



When they returned to the camp, and before the chief's 

 tent counted up the results of the hunt, one hundred and 

 sixty turkeys lay piled up in a single heap. The re- 

 mainder of the flock had escaped this murderous " steeple- 

 chase," either by concealing themselves among the herb- 

 age, or by allowing our company to pass onward, and 

 then escaping in the rear. 



