Old October Days in Iowa. 



posed that we take another tramp through a low piece of cover 

 down near the stream. Nothing loth I agreed, and we pro- 

 ceeded through the patch. When about half way through, a 

 circumstance occurred, the recollection of which rime, in its 

 advance, will not be able to wholly obliterate from my memory. 

 John pointed up stream saying: "Here comes a bunch of 

 mallards. They are likely to drop in at this bend, and if they 

 do, we will clean up the bunch/' As they neared our hiding 

 place, they set their wings and dropped into the river about 

 thirty rods above us. We kept quiet for a few minutes to give 

 them time to get settled, then we carefully raised our heads 

 above the willows, expecting to give that bunch of wary old 

 mallards the surprise of their life. But, alas ! 



"The best laid plans of mice and men 

 Gang aft agley." 



Not a duck was in sight on the river and a half hour's 

 careful search up and down the stream failed to locate them. 



One more run through a piece of brush that intervened be- 

 tween us and our waiting rig added three cotton-tails to our 

 bag. We at last arrived at the wagon and emptied our pockets 

 into it. The half hour following we devoted to that most pleas- 

 urable of occupations overhauling the lunch basket. Then we 

 stretched ourselves on the big fur robe and took things easy 

 until the slanting rays of the sun warned us that it was time 

 to be moving. John proposed that we drive out of our way 

 several miles to a favorite chicken ground and take in the even- 

 ing shooting. Xot willing to appear at all fagged, I yielded 

 a ready assent and, driving our horse down to the river to 

 water, we climbed in and sped smoothly away toward the 

 north. 



Nestling at our feet lay the trophies of our shoot, re- 

 splendent in their winter garb of fur and feather. Game little 

 fellows, 'twas their misfortune to be the victims, our fortune 

 to be the victors, but none can say that we gave them no 

 chance for their lives. 



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