A Match at Chickens 187 



stood. But M had got his saving lead, he 



felt he was a winner, and shot accordingly. 



As the thing progressed, the strain of it in- 

 creased, and finally M missed. Here was a 



chance ; but, alas ! only a few feathers answered 

 the small gun's appeal, and the score remained as 

 it had been. By this time the prairie had been 

 thoroughly worked, so it was agreed to go to an- 

 other about a mile away. Barring the path thither 

 lay a long slope of scrub, and near its foot was 

 what looked like a wall of tall thicket; beyond 

 that a broad stubble. The colonel cracked his 

 whip, a thing he was seldom known to do, and 

 the spirited team sped away like wild horses. 



"I say, Colonel!" exclaimed M 's friend, 



" hadn't we better keep up to the ridge ? It's all 

 clear up there ; " and there was a decided tone 

 of anxiety in his voice. 



" Not worth while turning now ; why didn't you 

 speak back yonder ? " responded the colonel, who 

 seemed to have all he could do to hold his nags. 

 Verily, the colonel knew what he was about ! 



Near the thicket the team steadied, and we saw 

 the dogs busy over some ground-scent. " Whoa ! " 

 said the colonel. 



" Hadn't we better move on ? " said M and 



his friend in one breath. " There's lots of birds 

 up-" 



" There's a point — steady, you ! " roared the 



