250 THE WILD TURKEr. 



I took my shot gun with me on this occasion, as my 

 friend had promised to have a cock bird within range 

 if I would attend to his instructions, and keep perfectly 

 quiet. We were on our way to the hunting-grounds 

 before the sun had fairly risen ; on the grass and bushes 

 hung a thick dew, which gave promise of a fine bright 

 morning for the sport. The wind was blowing gently 

 towards the north, and we pursued a westerly course, 

 walkins: to our work rig-ht across the wind. When we 

 had gone about a mile and a half, a gobble was plainly 

 heard to our left, and we at once stopped to listen ; in 

 the course of five seconds a rival cock answered the 

 challenge. 



Having thus satisfied himself that the turkeys were 

 in the neighbourhood, my friend D , the turkey- 

 hunter, looked about for a place of concealment, and 

 soon found a fallen tree, behind which we sat down, 

 having our guns cocked and in readiness. The tree 

 concealed us perfectly. 



Havincf thus arrano^ed our ambuscade, D took 



his turkey-caller from his bullet-pouch, gave two clear 

 distinct calls, and then listened most eagerly. 



The bird we first heard was the first to answer, the 

 wind blowing the sound almost directly towards him; 

 and about two seconds afterwards the one in advance 

 of us answered with three or four gobbles in rapid 

 succession. 



* I fear we shall be obliged to let one of them go,' 



