OF A RANCHMAN 129 



shooting. The covey was a large one, com- 

 posed of two or three broods of young prai- 

 rie fowl, and I struck on the exact place, a 



it hollow filled with low brush and tall 

 grass, where they were lying. They lay 

 very close, and my first notice of their pres- 

 ence was given by one that I almost trod on, 

 which rose from fairly between my feet. A 

 young grouse at this season offers an easy 

 shot, and he was dropped without difficulty. 

 At the report two others rose and I got one. 

 When I had barely reloaded the rest began 

 to get up, singly or two or three at a time, 

 rising straight up to clear the edge of the 

 hollow, and making beautiful marks; when 

 the last one had been put up I had down 

 seven birds, of which I picked up six, not 

 being able to find the other. A little farther 

 on I put up and shot a single grouse, which 

 fell into a patch of briars I could not pene- 

 trate. Then for some time I saw nothing, 

 although beating carefully through every 



v-looking place. One patch of grass, but 

 a few feet across, I walked directly through 



