242 SPORT INDEED 



turb the ladies of the party (for, mind you, there were 

 five of them journeying across the continent and back 

 in the " Yellowstone " ). We got away about five 

 o'clock in the morning, just as the geese were com- 

 mencing to fly from the lake to the neighboring wheat- 

 fields. We were posted along a low ridge, with strict 

 orders to lie down quiet and snug in some thorn 

 bushes. (If the reader has ever tried "lying down 

 quiet and snug in a thorn bush " he will understand 

 why it requires practice.) When a flock came near 

 we were to jump up, single out a goose and give him 

 some l^o. 1 shot. 



The day was breaking in the east and shedding its 

 faint gray light over the prairie. The dainty colors of 

 the wild flowers, their pale yellows, their pinks and 

 their purples were just becoming discernible in IS'ature's 

 prairie panorama which she was now unrolling before 

 us to rapture our sense with its beauty. 



And now comes the cry of the wild goose : " Honk ! 

 Honk ! Honk ! " Looking up we saw a long line of 

 them approaching high overhead. Crack ! went the 

 guns and away went the geese leaving none of their 

 company behind. Down we dodged again and an- 

 other flock came in sight. As before, another go of 

 the guns and another go of the geese ; and thus flock 

 after flock flew over us in their particular wedge-shape 

 order, but all too high. However, we ventured an- 

 other crack at them. This time one was seen to drop 



