OF A RANCHMAN 101 



In going out of this jt a shot at 



a gang of wild geese. We saw them a long 

 way off, coming straight toward us in a 

 head and tail line. Down we dropped, flat on 

 our faces, remaining perfectly still without 

 even looking up (for wild geese are quick 

 to catch the slightest motion) until the sound 

 of the heavy wing strokes and the honking 

 seemed directly overhead. Then we rose on 

 our knees and fired all four barrels, into 

 which we had slipped buckshot cartridges. 

 They were away up in the air, much beyond 

 an ordinary gunshot ; and we looked regret- 

 fully after them as they flew off. Pretty 

 soon one lagged a little behind; his wings 

 beat slower ; suddenly his long neck dropped, 

 and he came down like a stone, one of the 

 buckshot having gone dean through his 

 breast. 



We had a long distance to make that day, 



and after leaving the grain fields travelled 



pretty steadily, only getting out of the wagon 



or twice after prairie chickens. At 



lunch time we halted near a group of small 



