252 THE -WILD TURKEY. 



the turkey-hunter remained as motionless and quiet as 

 the old tree-stump which concealed him. The two cocks, 

 however, were not so cautious ; and at frequent inter- 

 vals they rolled out loud sonorous gobbles, both as chal- 

 lenges to each other, and to elicit a response from the 



unseen seeming hen. D was almost as excited as 



myself, though being more accustomed to this kind of 

 still-hunting, his agitation was not so apparent. He 

 made not the least noise ; conveying his ideas to me as 

 he was able by means of signs. 



' They'll meet together presently,' he signalled with 

 his lips, ' and then I can call them both up.' 



To the rivals the hen bird must have seemed exces- 

 sively shy and coy, for no enticing cluck encouraged 

 their advances, while they filled the air with invitations 

 and declarations of love and w^ar. As minute after 

 minute passed away, the birds seemed to become more 

 and more excited. 



' It is all right now,' D at length whispered, 



putting his mouth close to my ear. ' They'll come 

 close to us as soon as I give another cluck; so get 

 your gun ready to follow my shot. I'll take the right- 

 hand bird and shoot first, because you can work your 

 short gun quicker than I can the rifle.' 



So saying, D glanced at his weapon, to see that 



all was right, and then again sent forth two clear, 

 distinct calls from the little bone between his lips. 

 This done, he at once dropped the instrument which 



