PASSENGER PIGEONS. 125 



tramped ; the only alteration in the performance being an 

 occasional halt, when an acute observation of some sign 

 would cause comments from all parties, excepting we two 

 pale-faces. First, it would be a broken twig; next, an in- 

 dentation of the ground ; and, thirdly, what would not have 

 appeared to the uninitiated a rarity in sheep pastures. Al- 

 though this was all Greek to us, we determined to look 

 knowing, say nothing, and possibly, like many another un- 

 der similar circumstances, get credit for being perfect Nim- 

 rods. A halt was at length called, and old Chief John, no 

 small-bug, spoke like an oracle. The deer had gone to the 

 big swamp, and if we wanted buck we must go there. Off 

 again we started, I having come to the determination that 

 the whole thing was a humbug, and that I would slip off 

 the first available opportunity. The desired chance soon 

 offered, and after half an hour's walking I struck the mar- 

 gin of the lake where the canoes had been left. Another I 

 found before me at this rendezvous, which helped much to 

 console me for not being the only deserter. We had not 

 long been dawdling and attempting to kill time, when some 

 pigeons came down to drink; so, drawing my buck-shot, 

 and replacing it with No. 6, 1 came to the conclusion, as I 

 could not have venison, I would try and procure some of 

 them. Nor was I unsuccessful, for soon half a dozen long- 

 tails (the wild pigeons of America have long tails) swelled 

 the voluminous proportions of my pockets. There is an 

 end to all things, and even pigeons got wary of our prox- 

 imity, and a second period of inaction followed. However, 

 the scenery was pretty, the foliage brilliant, the tempera- 

 ture pleasant, and a hunter might be far less comfortably 

 situated. 



Time was passing rapidly, the sun was fast dipping into 

 the horizon, and consequently our indefatigable friends could 

 not much longer be absent. Thus I thought, when Master 



