A FLORIDA QUAIL. 



PHOTO BY W. E. CARLIN. 



TWO HOURS WITH QUAIL. 



MARTHA CONNELLY. 



My husband had often promised to take 

 me with him on a shooting trip, but the 

 day of fulfilment was a long time in ar- 

 riving. At last I determined to force mat- 

 ters, and on a pleasant autumn afternoon 

 presented myself to him as he sat in his 

 smoking room after luncheon, clad in short 

 skirts, heavy shoes and a tight fitting 

 jacket. 



As soon as I told him the object of my 

 dress he laid aside his pipe and patting the 

 reclining head of the handsome pointer at 

 his side looked meaningly at the shot gun 

 hanging above him. The eager dog was 

 immediately all attention and ready for the 

 fields. An hour later we were on the 

 shooting grounds where my husband on 

 other days had found numerous flocks of 

 quail. 



From a ridge we together watched Jack 

 as he crossed the small stream and worked 

 up the ridge beyond. Suddenly he came to 

 a beautiful point and remained rigid. 



'There they are!" I cried, and followed 

 my husband as he ran down the ridge. 



Across the stream we panted and up the 

 other side. Whir-r-r! A score of birds 

 rose in easy range. Bang! bang! Two 

 shots almost like one, and 3 birds fell while 

 the rest of the flock sank into a patch of 

 brown stubble in the distance. 



Jack was a well trained dog and soon 

 retrieved the fallen birds. We then pushed 

 on after the flock. Again Jack stopped, 

 and in a close bunch we saw the quail. 

 Up they rose, and again the double barrel 

 claimed a score. Twice more they were 

 followed and flushed and then they scat- 

 tered and took to the woods for shelter 



" The fun is over," said my husband as 

 he handed his sixth bird to me. 



' Yes, let the birds have a rest," I re- 

 plied. " We will gather wild flowers and 

 take them home to make our rooms look 

 ' woodsy. ' " 



When we proudly made our way through 

 the village with our trophies it was well 

 toward the dusk of evening. We had 

 broiled quail on toast for supper, and it was- 

 a feast not soon to be forgotten. 



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