90 HUNTING SPORTS OF THE WEST. 



length a gleam appeared in the east ; gradually the forms 

 of the nearest objects became visible ; as the light in- 

 creased, we could make out, on one of the upper branches 

 of a tree, a dark spot, which afterwards was distinctly 

 seen to be a raccoon. S raised his rifle slowly, and 

 took aim; the dogs jumped up, and looked to and fro 

 from the muzzle of the gun to the dark spot on the tree, 

 giving a slight whine the piece became steady a flash 

 a sharp report and the creature fell dead from the top 

 of the tree. The dogs seized it instantly, and it cost 

 some trouble to rescue it from their fangs, before the skin 

 was quite spoiled. 



We returned to the house, and rested again till break- 

 fast After breakfast I went out to shoot turkeys, which 

 were very numerous ; but when I descended to the lower 

 valley of the river, I found such an abundance of winter 

 grapes, that I thought no more of my shooting, but 

 gathering a good quantity, I lay down under a tree to 

 enjoy them. After lying there about a couple of hours, 

 I was roused by hearing the turkeys calling ; so, hiding 

 myself behind a fallen tree, I used my decoy pipe, and 

 ten or a dozen stout fellows came strutting along. When 

 they arrived within about twenty paces I gave a whistle, 

 which brought them to a stand, and I shot the largest 

 through the head. Satisfied with my prize, I returned 

 to the house, and found that the grapes had quite spoiled 

 my dinner. 



As the weather turned out fine and warm in the after- 

 noon, determined to hunt in the wood for a swarm of 

 wild bees, which we had sought for in vain about six 



