ON CALLERS AND CALLING 193 



to have come this far before daylight, six miles, 

 and have such a fine gobbler within our grasp, 

 then give it up and go home without him." 



"Oh, well," both said in a whisper, "if you 

 think you will get him, we will stay all day." 



"That is all I ask," I replied. "On these 

 terms he goes home with us." 



By this time the gobbler had finished his 

 attention to the third hen and was gobbling 

 furiously in the same spot. I began to call again 

 and the gobbler responded lustily. Having 

 given him a few well-meant calls, I put the caller 

 in my pocket. Seeing this move, one of the 

 boys asked me if I was going to give up. " No," 

 I replied, " it is his turn to parley and he will come 

 now if no other hen comes to him, so you fellows 

 keep still as death, but keep a careful watch. 



Very soon, after a series of rapid and excited 

 gobbling, all was still. My rifle got into posi- 

 tion, and I whispered to the boys to peer over 

 the log, but to keep their heads still, as the gob- 

 bler was coming and would soon be in sight. 

 The woods had been burned and the low scrub 

 in our region was black and charred, save small 



