THE PINNATED GROUSE. 75 



sleeping, and on the timbered islands that di- 

 vided its winding path, and on the broad belts 

 of timber beside its course, dotted with many a 

 glimmering lake. And even on the great gleam- 

 ing bars of sand peace gently brooded, and in 

 the curves of deep shade where the mighty 

 stream swept close to the gigantic cottonwoods 

 along the shore. Rafts of lumber covering acres 

 of space, and the steamer trailing her sooty ban- 

 ner against the sky, were about the only signs of 

 man that marred the fair scene. 



Where the white gentian of the prairie was 

 smiling beside the soft purple of the sabbatia, and 

 the air was redolent of basil and thyme, amid the 

 hum of the wild bee and the whistle of the wings 

 of the dove as he shot through the air above us, 

 a cloth was spread, and on it a lunch fit for the 

 gods. Then after two hours of eating, smoking, 

 dozing, and swapping of hunter's truths, we 

 started, in the cool of the afternoon, for birds to 

 take home. 



Not many hundred yards had we gone when 

 Doc suddenly stopped and pointed long enough 

 to empty the wagon of every man that had a gun. 

 Then off he went on a half-trot which quickly 



