78 AMERICAN GAME BIRD SHOOTING, 
a snowy cloth, being laid in the orchard, we sat down to 
our al fresco repast with a keen sense of pleasure, and 
partook of it with that feeling of delight which comes 
from sharp appetites, pleasant company, and charming 
surroundings. When the heavier portion was disposed 
of, we plucked our dessert from the fruit trees that sur- 
rounded us, and capped the dinner climax by an indul- 
gence in peaches, cream, and honey. After the dogs and 
horses had been fed and watered, we retired into the 
house and remained there until four P. M., then sal- 
lied forth to wage war anew on the innocent birds. We 
found them quite abundant, and managed to score so 
well that by the time we reached home, our opponents 
had twenty brace, while we had exactly twenty-six and a 
half. Although the shooting in the evening was not 
near so good as it had been in the morning, yet it was 
much pleasanter, for, the birds being scarcer, the dogs 
had to work harder, and it was then delightful to see 
how freely they ranged, how steadily they pointed, and 
how promptly they backed each other, and acted with 
the precision of machines. Few sights in the field are 
pleasanter than to see good Prairie Chicken dogs working 
together, as every point and back is made with auto- 
matic regularity, and the most high-mettled nervous- 
ness istoned down by training and experience into action, 
which, while spirited, is as steady as that of a veteran 
under fire. 
After supper I was surprised to see half a dozen coun- 
try wagons, which were filled with matrons, maids, and 
gallants, drive up to the door. As soon as the occupants 
alighted they were ushered into the parlor, but they had 
not had time to get seated ere Miss Lucy rushed in, and, 
before greeting one of them, burst into an exclamation of— 
“Oh! girls, Mr. ——- and myself beat papa and the 
Captain to-day by just thirteen chickens, and I’ve won a 
pair of gloves and some other presents from them.” 
