102 



RECREATION. 



was standing in a tree watching the dogs, 

 and that the noise he had made was to 

 thoroughly frighten and scatter the flock. 

 He added that we would have to wait again 

 while he took our dogs and tied them up 

 out of sight and hearing, and that then he 

 would try to call up the turkeys. 



When he returned he placed Rob in front 

 of a big pine facing East and made me sit 

 in front of another tree, facing West, my 

 position being about 50 yards west of Rob's. 

 Basset said we need not be afraid of the 

 turkeys seeing us if we would remain mo- 

 tionless. He then took a position midway 

 between us and began calling "keow, keow 

 keow." At first he called loudly and fre- 

 quently, but after hearing an answering 

 yelp he called softly and at longer inter- 

 vals. The first answer came from Rob's 

 side. It was twice repeated in the next 10 

 minutes. Then there were 2 reports in 

 quick succession. We went to where Rob 

 was standing and found he had taken snap 

 shots at a turkey about 60 yards away, and 

 had missed. Basset cautioned him to wait 

 longer next time and, assuring us there 

 would be more chances, placed us again in 

 our stations. 



After he had called for 15 minutes an 

 answer came from the West and soon 2 

 great birds pitched from the top of the op- 

 posite ridge and flew almost straight to- 

 ward me. As they passed me at about 20 

 paces I fired at the leader and he fell, rid- 

 dled with shot. Rob and I pulled on the 

 other at the same instant. The bird fell, 

 gathered itself together and started to run, 

 but ere it had gone 10 yards the guide 

 overtook it. He ordered us back to our 

 places and soon I heard a turkey call, a lit- 

 tle to my right. When Basset answered, 

 the bird came running but suddenly stopped 

 about 60 yards away. In all my hunting 



experience my nerves were never so tested. 

 I thought the bird saw me and that the 

 next moment he would be off without giv- 

 ing me a shot, still I forced myself to obey 

 Tasset's instructions. In a few moments 

 the guide yelped faintly, and then I under- 

 stood why the bird had stopped. It was to 

 listen, for as soon as the call sounded he 

 ran straight on and at 2 rods distance saw 

 me. It was a young gobbler and I shall 

 never forget his look of dismay. For sev- 

 eral seconds he stood as though turned to 

 stone, then as I jumped to my feet he 

 hurled himself into flight. I pulled the 

 trigger and one more turkey was added to 

 our bag. The guide called up 2 more, 

 Rob getting one and I the other. 



The next day Basset killed a yearling 

 deer, and had we not had some moun- 

 taineer visitors much of our game would 

 have spoiled on our hands. In some way 

 our presence had become noised through 

 the mountains and Sunday morning all 

 the men and boys for miles around gathered 

 at our camp. They came on foot, on mules, 

 and on horses, and gazed amazedly at our 

 hammerless guns and Rob's 30-30 rifle 

 which our guide assured them would kill a 

 deer 2 miles away. 



We stayed in camp 10 days and I never 

 before so enjoyed shooting or eating. Sev- 

 eral times we went to a river near and 

 shot ducks; and the quail shooting seemed 

 all the more enjoyable after a change to 

 ducks, squirrels, or turkeys. The walking 

 was good, the woods were open, and there 

 were no fences to climb. At night the 

 hounds would tree coons and we would 

 take our lantern and axe and bring them 

 into camp. It took us nearly 4 days to 

 make the journey back to the railroad, but 

 it was all enjoyable, and Rob and I are 

 looking forward, to another trip with Basset. 



SOME PLACE WEST OF KANSAS. 



MINNIE J. 



Ship me some place West of Kansas, where 



the earth's not crowded so ; 

 Where they have about four people to each 



square mile or so ; 

 Where the atmosphere's been washed and 



dried, and ironed so smooth and fine, 

 That it seems a happy foretaste of some 



elixir divine. 



For I'm sick of all these people, swarming, 



moiling to and fro ; 

 Sick of twenty-storied scrapers and the 



stony streets below ; 

 And the homesick heart within me longs 



for spaces wide and free 

 That stretch out West of Kansas, and it's 

 there Id like to be. 



REYNOLDS. 



Oh, I love the locomotive, when her head 



is pointed West, 

 And her wheels are swift revolving; 'tis 



then I love her best. 

 Past the lake front at Chicago, corn fields 



rich of old Mizzoo, 

 Past the bluffs at Kansas City, Westward 



portals rolling through. 



When my day's work is over, and I toil 



and moil no more, 

 Don't bury me in sodden earth upon this 



foggy shore. 

 Ship me some place West of Kansas, 



where the great plains onward sweep; 

 'Neath the shadow of the Rockies let me 



softly, sweetly sleep. 



