WILD TURKEY SHOOTING. 357 



everywhere looking* for a suitable place for our purpose. 

 Finally we find a tolerably open space, sixty or seventy 

 yards across, in the very center of which there are some 

 old rotten logs. Rolling two together, so as to make a 

 Y, we pile brush and sticks on them and about them, 

 making a very natural -looking blind, that will completely 

 hide us on all sides, at the same time allowing plenty of 

 openings to see and shoot through. We have left an 

 open space on the inside, from which we scrape away all 

 the leaves, so that if we have to move we will make no 

 noise. There is plenty of room within, and we sit down, 

 back to back, so as to command a good view in every 

 direction. Two hunters, understanding each other well, 

 can always do better than one, because by sitting as we 

 sit, those startling and confusing ' ' back surprises ' ' are 

 effectually prevented. Jeff lies snugly by my side, but 

 shows himself to be wide-awake to every proceeding. 

 The leaves are all dead, and I have no caller except my 

 lips, which always serve me, as a dernier ressort. By 

 folding the lower lip under the upper, and sucking, while 

 holding my hands closely cupped over my mouth, pretty 

 good yelping can be done. When all is ready, a few low, 

 muffled yelps are given, rather long drawn out. It has 

 been half an hour since the last shot was fired. Quietness 

 reigns in the solemn forest. Not even a noisy crow is 

 heard, near or far. In a few minutes, I yelp again, and 

 immediately we hear a long, keen, loud kee-ouk on Bob's 

 side. I whisper: "Get ready; that's a fool of a young 

 gobbler, and he'll be on you before you know it." A yelp 

 or two by me, and we hear the pattering of his feet in the 

 leaves as he comes rushing to destruction. Jeff gives a 

 convulsive shiver, for he has heard everything, and 

 knows what is going on as well as either of us. The 

 deadly gun booms, and the young fellow, deceived by a 

 motherly yelp, lies fluttering in death. Jeff springs out 



