712 Field Sports in Minnesota. 



fated, for so far not a bird has flushed to him, is becoming tired of 



the monotony of the thing. Then B and W each bring 



down another bird. When B and W each bring down 



another bird, his impatience finds vent in words: "This is downright 

 murder, gentlemen," said he ; "you don't give the birds half a chance. 

 A man," he added, "that could miss a chicken flashed in such easy 

 range ought not to hunt in the company of sportsmen." 



He had scarcely finished speaking when the old hen grouse of 

 the brood whirred up under his very feet. Somewhat startled there- 

 at, and before she had flown five yards, he fired all too quickly, scor- 

 ing a clean miss. An exclamation escaped him at the result, and he 

 at once sought her with his second barrel ; his first had turned her a 

 trifle from her course, and she presented now a side-shot at thirty 

 yards. Any one of us could then have cut her down easily, but we 

 preferred not to, and stood with guns in the position of ready, await- 

 ing the result of his second. Bang ! went the gun ; on flew the bird. 

 She was now fairly ours, and, though fifty yards away, succumbed 

 instantly to the closely blended triple report from our pieces. 



Like a man, the good-natured fellow faced our music and, tak- 

 ing off his hat, made us three, who stood laughing heartily, a most 

 profound bow, at the same time remarking : 



" I acknowledge the corn : it is not quite so easy as it appears to 

 be," although he added, by way of retaliation, " I am quite certain 

 even I could have stopped her ladyship with a treble dose ! " 



At the word "Fetch!" the eager dogs "seek dead," and in a 

 twinkling come trotting proudly back each with a bird, ■ on being 

 relieved of which they are again sent in with a like result. Not 

 much do these birds resemble the puny little ones bagged on the 

 fifteenth of August, for they are full grown, hardy and strong, and 

 very swift of wing. No. 7 shot, backed by a good charge of pow- 

 der, has done the work. September grouse seldom lie so close as 

 did this brood, every one of which lay safely bagged before us. 



The three dogs, having had barely a taste of sport, show much 

 unwillingness to take up again their position back of the wagon; but 

 it is now the duck retrievers' turn, for we are about to enter a 

 section of country thickly interspersed with small lakes or ponds, 

 here called sloughs (pronounced slews). Turk and Prince, having 

 work before them, are set free, and soon testify their appreciation 



