A STRANGE INCIDENT 



W. H. NELSON. 



Yesterday, as "twilight was deepening 

 with a tinge of eve," I sat in my den idly 

 poring over an old war book, dreaming for 

 the thousandth time the fiery dramas of 

 40 years ago, when through my open win- 

 dow was thrust a head from which issued 

 a voice : 



"Nelson! Come out here, quick! I've 

 something great to show >ou." 



It was my friend, Mr. Freet, sportsman, 

 friend of Recreation, and gentleman. He 

 was evidently in a state, and as we hurried 

 out together he reiterated : 



"It's great ! Something for Recrea- 

 tion." Presently he said in calmer mood, 

 "A flock of quails in one of the trees, 

 right here in the heart of the city. They 

 are calling. Listen !" 



Just then, from the tree he indicated, out 

 against the sky they launched themselves, 

 flying o^ er the houses, going Westward, 

 in the direction of the White House, 6 of 

 them. They flew well above the housetops, 

 and in a moment disappeared. How came 

 they to visit the city? W r as it to present a 

 petition to "Teddv" for protection against 

 the game hog? We have read in Recrea- 

 tion of eagles, hawks and wild geese 

 dropping into the streets of cities, and I 

 have known, personally, of deer passing 

 through a Colorado town, and of a cin- 

 namon bear being killed in the heart of a 

 mountain town in the West; but to have 

 a covey of quails fly into the heart of a 

 great Eastern city coppers my king. 



The street lamps were lighted and elec- 

 tric globes were shimmering everywhere. 

 Was it, to them, the dawn ol a new day? 

 Had the lights bewildered them? 



Mr. Freet and I stood and watched them 

 disappear toward the West, and pitied 

 them heartily. They seemed so small and 

 helpless, so friendless and so persecuted. 

 In all this great city there were, perhaps, 

 not 100 men who, seeing them, would not 

 have thirsted for their blood. From the 

 bottom of my heart I rejoiced to hear 

 Freet say, "Poor little fugitives ! I hope 

 they'll reach safety"; but I realized that 

 with their limited powers of flight they 

 would perhaps fall long before they could 

 pass the thronging dangers, and den, in 

 the merciless hearts of men they would 

 meet short shrift. 



Perchance "He who careth for the spar- 

 rows that not one of them fall to the 

 ground" neglected may have guided them 

 to shelter and safety. I hope so. 



I am glad to find in Mr. Freet a true 

 disciple of the new gospel of game pro- 

 tection. He has been, from its infancy, a 

 constant, enthusiastic reader of Recrea- 

 tion, and is an energetic, persistent apostle 

 of decency in the field ; has sent in nu- 

 merous lists of subscribers, and on all 

 occasions preaches the New Covenant of 

 the L. A. S. Where one so often comes in 

 contact with bristles it is a pleasure, now 

 and then, to meet a man whose skin is 

 smooth. 



AMATEUR PHOTO BY NORMAN POMEROY JR. 



WE WANT OUR BRE-EE-A-A-A-K-FAST. 

 24 



