226 MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC 



might turn the laugh on them ; so to prevent 

 that, they pressed heavy stones into service, 

 and thus overcame the closing difficulty, 

 arriving in due course at the lodge, where 

 the participants in the shooting spree formed 

 themselves into a " mutual admiration 

 society" for the entertainment of themselves 

 and friends. 



Those of you who looked with admiration 

 on our sporting heroes as they went forth to 

 the slaughter of the innocents a few hours 

 ago, return with me and behold them now. 

 Well may you wonder, when you ask if those 

 are the same sportsmen. What wonderful 

 transformant has been at work to change 

 them so ? You keep in the background, and 

 I'll question the windrow-shooter. Here is his 

 reply, " Mud ! mud ! mud ! " As he said this 

 he raised his bootless foot and sighed, " Mud I 

 mud! mud !" At this stage in the ceremonies 

 we all went off the handle the whole affair 

 was so ludicrous. We laughed till we cried, 

 the whole being intoxicated with the excite- 

 ment. It was a long time before we quieted 

 sufficiently to take lunch. Even in that 

 performance some laughable part would get 



