A BIG DAY'S WORK. 207 



icate, careful step, well suited for progression over eggs. 

 As I had seen him do so previously, I knew what was com- 

 ing, and called my friends' attention, so that they might 

 gradually close up toward the keen -nosed setter. Belle 

 soon saw what Beau was up to, and followed him with 



equally cautious, gingery steps. H , who was off on my 



right, flushed a bird, which he cleverly cut down with his 

 first barrel, making a very pretty cross-shot. But where 

 were the dogs ? Both down in the grass waiting for us to 

 come, nor could they be persuaded to leave the game they 

 were on to find the victim first killed. After looking for a 

 few' moments, we gave it up, I marking the place as near as 

 I knew by dropping my white pocket-handkerchief, intend- 

 ing to return as soon as I had learned what the dogs had 

 found. As we advanced, Beau and Belle rose, and contin- 

 ued drawing for near a hundred paces more, when they 

 stood. Oh, that some artist had been there to sketch them 

 on the spot ! Nothing would I grudge for the picture. 

 The attitude of setter or pointer, when standing, is to me 

 the personification of grace and beauty; and these were 

 two of the handsomest of the breed that ever gun was 

 fired over. Well, the old story : the birds were put up, 

 so packed that we all had difficulty in singling them ; five 

 more fell to our lot; the others, after going about sixty 

 4'ods, dropping, scattered among a thick growth of iron- 

 weed. The dogs must, on this occasion, have winded their 

 game at least several hundred yards off, so strong is the ef- 

 fluvium emitted by this game and noble bird. 



The majority of the last brood we killed ; so, ere noon 

 had arrived, our bag consisted of seventy head of prairie- 

 chicken fairly bagged. 



Hank selected a well-suited place for our meal, and with 

 otium sine dignitate we passed the meridian hours of the 

 day, happy and contented, at peace with nil men, and con- 



