A Day with the Grouse. 125 



at a small wisp of foxtail grass and rag- 

 weeds, and Don was a few yards away back- 

 ing her. The idea that a whole big grouse 

 could hide in such cover without being 

 visible seemed ridiculous, but we had en- 

 tire confidence in the two mute authorities 

 standing there so motionless in the stub- 

 ble, and as I walked up to Don a grouse 

 sprang like a new revelation out of the 

 wisp and started off with plenty of room 

 to gain all needful headway. The first 

 charge of shot loosened a couple of wing 

 feathers and the second shot sent the bird 

 bounding all in a bunch among the seedy 

 ragweeds. Just then two more clucking 

 and squealing grouse with spread tails and 

 half-opened wings unexpectedly appeared 

 and ran straight toward me, mounting on 

 wing so close that I could almost have 

 touched them with the gun. Another one 

 jumped from the wisp straight up high 

 into the air, and a moment later two red 

 fellows whirred away side by side low over 

 the field. A volcano and earthquake of 

 grouse ! There I stood with unloaded 



^ 



gun and trying so hurriedly to get two 



