AN ENGLISH SPORTSMAN ON THE PRAIRIES. 29S 



The enthusiastic lecturer, followed by a train of disciples, 

 carried about with him, whether in bar, bed-room, or 

 reading-room, a couple of thick skulls besides his own ; 

 and had each been furnished with a tongue, a more un- 

 ceasing gabble of "organs," " developments," "propen- 

 sities," could not have been sustained. If we entered hia 

 presence, a dead silence ensued a score of eyes perused 

 our craniums and I verily believe, the singularly ample 

 brow of one of our party would hardly have escaped for- 

 cible manipulation, had we not ordered our wagon, and 

 changed the scene and subject for a most refreshing 

 drive. 



Most beautiful was the course we took down the river, 

 and through the small village of Geneva, nowise like 

 its ancient namesake, unless in its republicanism ! Hav- 

 ing feasted our eyes upon all the scenic perfections pos- 

 sessed by a slow silver stream, gliding between high and 

 woody banks, ruddy with Autumn's tints, and dotted 

 with lovely islands, we again returned to Charleston, 

 having during our drive marked our shooting-ground for 

 the morrow. 



The following day, keeping to the woods, we had some 

 tolerable sport, quail-shooting not heightened by a tho 

 rough wetting, bagging about seventy head of game, 

 chiefly those birds ; but finding, on inquiry, that there 

 was no farmer on the neighboring prairie whose dwelling 

 could accommodate three strangers, and further, the 

 weather changing for the worse, and thereby warning us 

 to change our front to the eastward, we resolved to re- 

 turn with our friend Barns to Elk Grove, and thus secure 

 t mode of retreat to Chicago at a moment's notice. On 



