132 GAME-BIRDS AT HOME. 



If not very careful you may be too late to 

 shoot. Vain is any thought of stopping the 

 wagon to allow you to take aim. The driver 

 could not stop it in time if he would : and he 

 will have his hands full to stop it in time to save 

 your bones anyway, for the horses are in runaway 

 speed. You must hold yourself in place and 

 shoot as best you can before too near the center 

 of the flock. You must be a good shot from a 

 running horse or wagon, and quite able to keep 

 your balance, mental as well as physical. Amid 

 a general slam-bang-rattle-ty-bang you toss the 

 gun to your shoulder, catch a glimpse of the 

 end in line with something like revolving gray, 

 and pull the trigger. For a second it seems as 

 if the universe were whirling around you as one 

 of the great birds falls with heavy thump on the 

 back of one of the horses, with another gyrating 

 almost into the wagon, while hundreds more are 

 climbing with clamorous throats toward the dome 

 of heaven as you rush on beneath at a pace that 

 is quite alarming. 



