282 PRAIRIE AND FOREST. 
picked up each other’s birds; for we took reverse sides of 
the river, such a proceeding saving our faithful, patient, 
ever-willing retrievers. Nor would our forenoot bag be 
better than the afternoon one, although toward night we re- 
turned over the same route we had pursued in the morning; 
for if we killed a couple of dozen going with the stream, 
the number bagged would be about the same returning 
in the reverse direction. And day after day no apparent 
diminution in our sport occurred, for the vast sloughs in 
the surrounding prairie immediately supplied the deficit 
occasioned by our labors. There were other pleasures at- 
tached to this delightful locality that never could fail to 
delight the naturalist or sportsman; for the fleet, timid, 
watchful-eared deer, the fussy, pompous wild turkey, and 
graceful, swift- winged ruffed grouse were also partial to 
this retreat, and few were the days that we did not seé 
several of each, rushing off on rapid feet or wing to hide 
themselves from the dangerous intruders on their demesne. 
This spot can not be much changed, for it is only seven 
years or so since I was there, and it is some distance from 
railroads; but even supposing the game be reduced one- 
half, then there would be ample left to induce me to go 
many a long and weary mile to revisit it. My old shoot- 
ing companion and very dear friend, Nathaniel West, a 
year or two since was still residing at Kent, Indiana, not 
many miles from the Iroquois. If the reader be of the right 
sort, id est, willing to do a fair day’s work for a fair day’s 
sport, and acknowledge that there are as good countries in 
the world as our own, let him call upon him, and he will 
return satisfied that America can and does produce as good 
shots and sportsmen as England. 
