THE WILD TURKEY. 39 
“That fellow is mocking me,” said my companion; 
*¢ but if I knew where he was, I’d teach him better man- 
ners, if a dose of lead would do it.” 
‘‘Why should he laugh at you?” 
“* Because he and that gobbler seem to be in partner- 
ship about laughing at me.” 
The jocose seriousness of his manner would have made 
me chuckle at another time, but just then my heart was 
set bounding by the rapid and vehement gobble of a vet- 
eran turkey. When the vocal roll died away, my com- 
panion poked me in the side, and in earnest, though 
hushed tones, exclaimied: ‘‘ That’s him!” 
“Who?” 
“Why, that enchanted gobbler. You see now that he 
and that owl are in partnership in mocking me.” 
“Tl soon dissolve the partnership if I catch that tur- 
key within range,” I exclaimed in a mock heroic tone; 
but my companion did not seem to think so, as he ex- 
pressed his willingness to bet me any sum I pleased that 
I would run on seeing him. As I scorned to take any 
notice of such an insinuation, the caller gave a low yelp, 
and was answered by a throat-splitting gobble, which re- 
sounded throughout the forest. 
‘‘We have him sure this time,” exclaimed the turkey 
actor, ‘and if you miss him after he gets to that place,” 
—pointing to a certain spot—‘‘ you'll never again be 
able to kill a turkey.” 
“You need not fear about my missing him,” I said, as 
I peered cautiously about for the object of so much solici- 
tude, but as 1t did not appear within the range of my 
vision, I asked the yelper to yelp again. 
“* Not I,” was the response, “I’m the modest maiden, 
and that gobbler must come to me; mark that.” 
‘©A pretty maiden you are,” I replied laughingly, 
when I glanced at his brawny form and rude attire, but 
instead of answering me he pointed to the right, and 
