The Wild Turkey 297 



and the track was intact. I was glad of that, for 

 there had been doubts upon several points. 



Almost before I was ready, certainly before 

 they were expected, back came the turkeys. 

 Luck had indeed turned, for the nearest pair 

 flew back and pitched less than two hundred 

 yards away. These must have lit upon a spot 

 from which the corn had previously been gleaned, 

 for they actually ran in my direction, and what is 

 more, the rest came chasing after them. Such 

 luck was simply overpowering and almost awful 

 to contemplate. 



What ! A single turkey out of a layout like 

 that! Nay, nay! Not to take full advantage would 

 be like flying in the face of Providence. I'd get 

 two in line and have both at once with the rifle, 

 then grab the gun and drop a couple more, maybe 

 three if they bunched well. Nearer and nearer 

 they came, till they were at the next telegraph 

 pole below the one opposite the culvert. It was 

 great ! An open chance like this is good enough, 

 but to shoot from a dead rest off the edge of a cul- 

 vert at two turkeys in line is a " cinch " ; but to 

 have a telegraph pole by which to gauge the exact 

 distance is almost too much. 



Two turkeys ! Fiddle-dee-dee-dee ! I'd let 

 'em come within thirty yards, get three in line, 

 tunnel through the lot; then for the gun, and 

 why not two to each barrel. Good old Caution 



