266 THe Aroostook Woops. 


‘* Would you have shot one upon the river bank?” 
*¢ Would a duck a swimming go?” 
Another nice piece of smooth and easy water, and we both 
ply the paddle. Footprints of the large game upon the shore, 
and tracks upon the bottom where they have crossed and 
waded out, and ploughed up the opposite bank. Just around 
a turnin the river we come upon a covey of partridges that 
have walked out from the bushes upon a sand bar, and are 
picking now and then at the gravel, and hesitating about 
flying over to the opposite side, as if the younger birds are as 
usual waiting a while to get their courage up before flying 
over water. 
The captain lays the canoe ashore upon the other side of 
the stream, reaches his rifle, and orders the crew to be quiet, 
if they can for once, and to hold the birch steady. 
*¢ Say Cap, did you ever get two of their heads in line, and 
cut ’em both off at one shot, slick and clean? Are’nt they 
cute and pretty, and so tame; just like hens for all the world. 
I should think you’d be ashamed, too?” 
‘¢ Will you be quiet?” 
‘* Birdies, if you hesitate another moment you are lost ; can’t 
you hear the click of the lock of his old, weather beaten rifle? 
Some of you will lose your pretty little heads soon. Shu, 
hens! shu ! why don’t you shu?” 
‘*Can you possibly shut up, and stop wriggling?” 
‘* Why, certainly.” 
He lowers, then raises his rifle, and again lowers it down, 
as they are constantly walking about and picking at the sand, 
not at all frightened, as we are lying close beside the alders. 
One holds his head steady at last, looking up the stream, 
when, crack! and he is beheaded. As the body flutters off 
