352 UPLAND SHOOTING. 



at this place is about half a mile wide, and is a splendid 

 place for the game we hunt. I know that there is a flock 

 of about thirty turkeys ranging here, and with my famous 

 dog, Jeff, to find them, feel absolutely certain of getting 

 all we want to-day. Bob is a novice after turkeys, and 

 carries a heavy double-barrel shot-gun, which he knows 

 well how to use on other kinds of game. I carry a rifle, 

 the companion of years, the delight of my heart, the 

 winner of many a trophy from the forest. 



"We will walk, Bob, because the Bottom is very 

 thick in many places, and we can do better every way. 

 We will hunt up this side of the creek for half a mile, and 

 if unsuccessful, then down the other until opposite here." 

 On entering the Bottom, Jeff is told to go, and he is off 

 like a well-trained pointer, and not unlike him, either, in 

 his ranging back and forth across our course. Every 

 now and then he looks to see which way we are going, 

 always keeping in sight. Here and there we see where 

 turkeys have been scratching, turning up the leaves as 

 they searched for their food. After having gone half a 

 mile, we come to the Jones field, and stop for a short rest. 

 Though we have seen plenty of fresh signs, Jeff caught 

 no scent, and I am sure the turkeys are on the other .side 

 of the creek. While we sit and talk, we hear some noisy 

 mallards over in the field, where there is a grassy pond 

 that has afforded me much sport many a time, for it is a 

 famous place for ducks. Bob insists upon trying to get 

 a shot at those mallards, urging as a reason that we may 

 not find the turkeys; but he is restrained by the strong- 

 assurance that we will find them, and besides, when after 

 turkeys, there should be no promiscuous shooting, since 

 turkeys easily take fright if a gun be fired near them, 

 and will get away as fast as possible, going into the hills, 

 if near enough, so that a dog can do but little with 

 them. 



