THE ART OF SHOOTING ON THE WING. 265 



I was engaged in shooting pinnated grouse in 

 December, in the neighborhood of Elkhart. 

 On the ninth of that month, when starting at 

 break of day, I drove to Mr. Gillott's pastures in 

 my buggy, and got there before it was quite 

 light. I opened the gate, went into the pas- 

 ture, and, getting into the buggy again, prepared 

 for shooting. The birds at that time were quite 

 wild, and it was necessary to shoot them from 

 the buggy. My gun lay upon my knees, both 

 barrels cocked. As I was stooping over to draw 

 the blanket upon my knees, the right fore-wheel 

 of the buggy fell into a deep rut. The gun 

 canted, and before I could catch it the butt hit 

 the hind wheel, and the right barrel went off, 

 making a hole through my thigh. The gun 

 was loaded with five drams of powder and an 

 ounce of No. 6 shot. It was a terrible wound, 

 but happily most of the shot missed the thigh- 

 bone. Some, however, hit it, but did not break 

 it. They are in my thigh now. I drove home, 

 was laid up four months, and am now well again. 

 But the wound has had the following effect : I 

 cannot walk as long as I used to do before I re- 

 ceived it. It is also very painful at times, so 

 much so that I almost fear it is going to break 



