282 PliAllUE AND FOREST. 



picked up each other's birds; for we took reverse sides of 

 the river, such a proceeding saving our faithful, patient, 

 ever-willing retrievers. Nor would our forenoon bag be 

 better than the afternoon one, although toward night we re- 

 turned over the same route we had pursued in the morning; 

 for if we killed a couple of dozen going with the stream, 

 the number bagged would be about the same returning 

 in the reverse direction. And day after day no apparent 

 diminution in our sport occurred, for the vast sloughs in 

 the surrounding prairie immediately supplied the deficit 

 occasioned by our labors. There were other pleasures at- 

 tached to this delightful locality that never could fail to 

 delight the naturalist or sportsman; for the fleet, timid, 

 watchful-eared deer, the fussy, pompous wild turkey, and 

 graceful, swift- winged ruffed grouse were also partial to 

 this retreat, and few were the days that we did not see 

 several of each, rushing off on rapid feet or wing to hide 

 themselves from the dangerous intruders on their demesne. 

 This spot can not be much changed, for it is only seven 

 years or so since I was there, and it is some distance from 

 railroads; but even supposing the game be reduced one- 

 half, then there would be ample left to induce me to go 

 many a long and weary mile to revisit it. My old shoot- 

 ing companion and very dear friend, Nathaniel West, a 

 year or two since was still residing at Kent, Indiana, not 

 many miles from the Iroquois. If the reader be of the right 

 sort, id est, willing to do a fair day's work for a fair day's 

 sport, and acknowledge that there are as good countries in 

 the world as our own, let him call upon him, and he will 

 return satisfied that America can and does produce as good 

 shots and sportsmen as England. 



