SHOOTING THE PRAIRIE GROUSE 409 



manage the team, following slowly in our wake, and 

 occasionally marking birds for us, which services she 

 rendered in an admirable manner and with a new and 

 delightful pleasure to herself. With the four dogs, 

 the three of us keeping about two hundred yards apart 

 and moving in line as nearly as practicable, each would 

 generally find birds enough for his individual shoot- 

 ing without disturbing the others or placing them in 

 danger; and when one's pockets became too heavy for 

 comfort or convenience he would fall back to the 

 wagon and deposit his load. 



Occasionally we met at the wagon, to water the dogs, 

 eat lunch, smoke a cigar, look over our birds, and when 

 we were thoroughly rested, started out for another 

 tramp. Thus we would put in time until about n 

 o'clock, when it was time to bundle ourselves and 

 dogs into the wagon and drive back to the hotel for 

 dinner, after which, about 3 o'clock, we would find 

 ourselves again seated in the wagon and on our way 

 for the evening shoot, which usually lasted far into 

 the "twilight soft and gray." To me there is a rare 

 and indescribable delight in shooting on a still, quiet 

 evening, watching the last rays of the setting sun, and 

 the last faint glimmer of light as it quietly passes away 

 under the gauzy curtain of night. 



We always found supper awaiting us on our arrival 

 home, when, after caring for the dogs and shedding 

 our hunting traps, and taking a good bath, we gathered 

 about the little round table, doing ample justice to 

 broiled chicken and other good things. 



