244 THE WILD TURKEY. 



pass. On he plunges, until caution again brings him 

 to a halt. We might almost hope that so fine a bird 

 might escape, that there might be given one call too 

 many — one that would grate harshly and unnaturally 

 upon his fine ear. But not so ; they lead him onwards 

 to his doom, filling his heart alternately with fear and 

 love. 



Again he rolls forth a loud response and listens — yet 

 no answer ; his progress is still slow. 



The cluck again greets his ear; there was a slight 

 quaver attached to it this time, like the forming of a 

 second note. He is nearing the object of his pursuit, 

 and with a loud energetic call he rushes hastily for- 

 ward, his long neck stretched out and his head moving 

 in a suspicious, though inquiring manner, from side to 

 side. 



No longer going round the fallen trees, bushes, and 

 various obstacles in his path, but flying over them in 

 love's impetuous haste, he comes at length to an open 

 space, and there stops. 



Some six hundred yards from where the noble bird 

 stands may be seen a fallen tree. You can observe 

 some green brush that looks as if it gre.AV out of the 

 decayed woodk In the midst of this innocent-looking 

 brush is hidden away the deadly fowling-piece of the 

 turkey-hunter, and its muzzle is protruding towards 

 the open ground. 



Behind it is the hunter himself, lying flat on his 



