84 ACCESSIBLE FIELD SPORTS. 



However, the warning that the medical attendant 

 appears to have given him seemed to be thrown away, 

 for he drank more spirits, with more gusto, and that 

 without showing the effect, than any representative of 

 the genus I ever previously met. 



Arriving on the ground, we determined to hunt 

 Beau and Belle, and keep Jock and Fan for the after- 

 noon. Leaving our waggon by the side of an Osage 

 orange hedge, separating the prairie from a large corn- 

 field, and having inserted cartridges in each barrel, 

 we commenced work. The ground we intended first 

 beating was rolling prairie, with a sufficiency of 

 grass on it to make the walking good, and the cover 

 tolerable. My companions and self stretched into line 

 and started with the wind in our faces. Before pro- 

 gressing a hundred yards Belle set dead as a statue, 

 and Beau immediately backed. Steadily we walked 

 up to the dogs, expecting immediately to commence 

 fire upon a pack of pinnated grouse ; but what was our 

 disappointment to find that the dogs were standing 

 to a covey of partridge (Perdrix Virginiensis) , scarcely 

 half grown : so we let the young ones go without 

 molestation, and continued our range. Our previous 

 forbearance was soon rewarded, for twenty yards 

 farther our setters again drew on game, Beau now 

 having the lead. Up we went, and although alongside 



