THE TIMMER-DOODLE. 



ERNEST SETON THOMPSON. 



" Say boss, I reckon thar's a pair o' tim- 

 mer-doodle in yore swamp, this year." 



" A pair of what? " 



" Timmer-doodle! " 



" What the deuce is that? " 



"Wal' I dunno; reck'n it's a doodle 

 what lives in the timmer." 



" What are they like? " 



" They ain't like nuthin', an' thar ain't 

 nnthin' like 'em. I reck'n you'll have a 



" 1 lunt timber-doodle." 



" Was he riz to it? " 



" No; he's only a year old." 



He ain't that nuther: an' he's good 

 stuff. He's got a birdy look. Goin' to 



break him yerself? " 



" Naw; haven't time. Must hunt up 

 some trainer." 



" Ever hear o' Bill Bylo, the spaniel 

 sharp?" 



"EF HYER AIN'T A HEN TIMMER-DOODLE A-SETTIN ! " 



mess uv 'em nex' August if ye knows how; 

 fur I've heerd the cock er warblin' this 3 

 nights." 



" Oh! you must mean woodcock." 



' Yep, pears to me that's what they's 

 called by the dudes, what comes out an' 

 hunts an' don't get none. Whar 'd ye steal 

 the purp? " 



; ' You must think I'm a native of these 

 parts." 



" Humph, reck'n ye ain't. Could 'a' tole 

 that a mile off. Ye ain't got the stuff in 

 ye. But mebbe the purp has. He looks 

 purty good. Ye don't want to swop him, 

 do ye? " 



" No." 



" What are ye fur doin' with 'im? " 



borne. 



" Good tin, ain't he? " 



"They say he's sharp enough." 



" Wall that's me, an' I'll break yer purp 

 fur a pair uv X's." 



" Don't know you." 



" That's my brand on the gun stock — 

 ' B.B.' ; and thar it is again on my arm. 

 ' B.B.' Some folks thinks I invented the 

 B.B. cap; an' some thinks I didn't. I 

 reck'n one or other gang is right." 



" You look right. I guess you are the 

 man." 



■' I am right! are ye dealin'? " 



" You'll break my dog to woodcock for 

 $20? " 



" Yep." 



445 



