with such precision that the birds fall into the open game bag at my side. 

 I invariably shoot the birds through the head, and on one occasion brought 

 down five in succession from a flock passing overhead, much to the sur- 

 prise of my companion as he saw one after another falling into the game 

 bag. 



Many years ago, when comparatively a novice, I used the shot gun, and 

 by a peculiar system of loading, I charged the shells in such a manner 

 that the shot instead of making the usual pattern would fly in any way 

 I desired. For instance, in wild-goose shooting, the shot, at a distance of 

 50 to 75 or 100 yards, would fly in the form of a V, and in this 

 manner I have killed a dozen wild geese at one time, each bird being 

 shot through the head by a single pellet. That soon became tame 

 sport, however, as it required little skill except in loading, and I now 

 prefer the rifle for all kinds of wing shooting, and at all distances, 

 even up to half a 

 mile, at which alti^ 

 tude I have' frequently 



brought down small ' >^ S^ z' • -f -f ^J W/ 



birds barely visible to 

 the naked eve. 



-X >^ 



■j?^' 

 ^y 



^'iinS^^ 



A TERRIBLE ENCOUNTER. 



While voyaging down the Mississippi last summer, said Mr. Ben 

 Jefferson, of Lyon & Healy, Chicago, I had a rather peculiar adventure. 

 I had camped for the night not far from the river, and lying beside the 

 camp-fire was preparing for a good night's rest. Finally a strange sensa- 

 tion came over me, as of some threatening danger, and an instant later a 

 terrible screatn,' evidently from a panther, sounded in my ears. The mon- 

 ster was immediately above me, judging from the sound, and as I glanced 

 upward I saw his eyes blazing like balls of fire, evidently in anticipation 

 of a feast upon my body. I seemed powerless to move, either fascinated 

 or appalled by the sight, and my next sensation was one of pain, as I felt 

 the talons of the beast at my head and throat. Exerting every energv, I 

 threw the monster from me, and as I did so another fiendish scream rent 

 the air. A slight explosion followed immediately after, and I saw, as I 

 awoke from m}' troubled sleep, that a spark from the camp-fire had fallen 

 into a percussion cap beneath the screech owl, which I had thrown 

 violently from its perch upon my head. The force of the exploded per- 

 cussion cap was sufficient to kill my terrible tormentor. 



87 ' 



