438 AMERICAN GAME BIRD SHOOTING 



found than if the ground was bare. They camped 

 upon a ridge separating Clear Creek Canyon and some 

 of the upper branches of Canyon Diablo, and from 

 here we will let Mr. Goldman tell his own story : 



"The first turkey tracks were seen in spots of soft 

 soil among the pinons, soon after noon, and others 

 we crossed at intervals along the road. Late in the 

 afternoon, when near the upper edge of the pifion 

 belt, we entered what was evidently the feeding ground 

 of a large flock, for many tracks were seen crossing 

 the wagon road in several places. This encouraged us 

 to camp near here, and when we came to a trail lead- 

 ing down into Clear Creek Canyon, and indicating ac- 

 cessible water, we did so. After a few hasty prepa- 

 rations for the night the camp man was sent to the 

 bottom of the canyon, over a mile away, to water the 

 horses and fill casks for camp use, while the hunter 

 and I started out in opposite directions to look for 

 turkeys. I walked slowly and as quietly as possible 

 through fairly open pine and pifion woods, following 

 a half-circular course in order to avoid going too far 

 from camp so late in the day. Many tracks were seen, 

 but none of them had been made that day. At the end 

 of an hour or so I came to the head of a small side 

 canyon, about a mile from camp. The sun had just 

 set, and all nature seemed to have gone to sleep. Not 

 a sound broke the silence, except the slight, unavoidable 

 rustling of my own footsteps among the dry leaves. 

 I stopped a moment to listen, and had about decided 

 to cut across to camp, when suddenly, from down the 



