38 AMERICAN GAME BIRD SHOOTING. 
‘That will bring them if they are around here,” said 
he confidently. 
His notes were so exact that I complimented him on 
his proficiency, and told him he was the best caller I had 
ever heard. 
“I know I’m good enough at that business,” said he 
slyly; ‘‘if they had a turkey-calling chair vacant in Yale 
College I think I could take it away from all competi- 
tors,” and, as if to prove his statement, he sounded sev- 
eral appealing notes, which were delivered in the most 
endearing manner; but still no response came. After 
waiting for about ten minutes we heard a sharp yelp, 
which caused my blood to tingle with pleasant anticipa- 
tion; but as he did not answer it, I asked him if he had 
heard it. ; 
“‘Of course, I did,” he replied, ‘‘ but that fellow can’t 
call for sourapples. He ain’t much at the business,” 
«“Wasn’t that a turkey, then?” 
“No; that was a man who is usingacaller. No person 
can fool me unless he can call with his mouth alone, and 
then he must be good at it. He may fool a turkey, but 
he can’t fool me.” , 
Our conversation was disturbed at this point by a 
series of yelps and rolls and ‘‘ keouks,” but they sounded 
so badly that even I could tell they were uttered by a 
person who was not very proficient in the art of calling. 
“That fellow will drive every turkey i in the country 
out of it,” exclaimed my companion petulantly, ‘and 
we'll only have our pains for our labor.” 
“What had we better do, then?” I asked. 
“*T know what I’ll do,” he exclaimed. He then poured 
forth such a series of erotic appeals, that the gobbler 
that heard and did not respond to them was flinty-hearted 
indeed, in my estimation. The only response to this, 
however, was the mocking cry of some ghostly owl, whose 
repose had heen disturbed by the resonant notes. 
