64 The Partridge Family 



hand picked up the bird, and a moment later a 

 shot rang out, followed by a cry of, " I got him ! " 

 It was a startling revelation, for there was no 

 mistaking act or motive. Nothing was said on 

 either side, but one brain did a deal of thinking. 

 At the end of what otherwise would have been a 

 perfect day, the sole retort was the presentation 

 of the entire bag with the remark, " You value 

 them more than most men, and no doubt can find 

 plenty of use for them." That ended the matter, 

 but never again did the man propose a joint de- 

 bate of the game question. He must have guessed, 

 for he couldn't see. The chances are that he 

 later thought that one grouse rather a high-priced 

 fowl. It was a mighty fine bird, too ! 



NEAR THE END OF THE SEASON 



This is the time beloved of the skilled and 

 vigorous quail-shooter. The birds are at their 

 best strong, full-feathered, and educated in the 

 hard school of experience. They go to cover 

 like so many cannon-balls, to be stopped only by 

 the man whose eyes and hands work in the most 

 perfect unison. There is a tang to the air which 

 makes a fellow feel like stepping off five miles an 

 hour, while a dog can work hard all day and keep 

 his tongue in his mouth. Scent, as a rule, is of 

 the best; the leaves are down, so that what a 

 month before was baffling cover is now only suf- 



