FOREST AND STREAM. 
[JAN. 2, 1897. I 
it was a disappointment to me not to have had the pup 
have a chance of pointing or trailing her. Charlie came 
up and after letting the pup nose the bird for a moment 
I stowed it away in my pocket. Charlie was wonderfully 
pleased at my good fortune and acknowledged that he 
was about getting disgusted at our hard luck in not find- 
ing more birds, for he knew they were plentiful there- 
abouts, but couldn't seem to find them. 
We soon came up to Jim and Charles K,, who in fact 
were coming our way, thinking from our having fired 
three shots that we had found a bunch of quail. Jim 
was delighted when he learned of my getting a partridge. 
We then started somewhat spread out toward the 
wagon, then distant about one and one-half miles. We 
went through some bits of woods and stubble, but failed 
to find a bird. On a biUside a bunny cottontail started 
from under my feet. I covered it for an instant, felt how 
easy it would have been to shoot, decided the little fellow 
wanted his life more than I wished to take it, and let him 
go. When within a short distance of the wagon, where 
we had arrived without any further luck, a rabbit slipped 
off through some rather heavy underbrush, making a 
somewhat difficult mark, a hasty sight, a bang, and poor 
bunny had rolled in a heap. It was now after 3 P. M. , 
and our sum total of game killed was two partridges and 
two rabbits and one quail — among four persons and the 
day nearly gone. But we weren't discouraged yet. Quail 
lead into the stubble about this time and feed until time 
to roost; and we were in hopes of running across them 
yet. So into the wagon we climbed, taking the dogs 
with us for a rest, and headed the old horse for home, 
intending to visit the stubbles that lay on our route. 
A drive of a couple of miles brought us to the next 
stubble, and this not being a very extensive one Charlie 
M. alone got down from the wagon, and with the pup 
had worked well across it before the dog began to road 
on birds. We climbed down as quickly as possible, but 
before we had gotten half way the birds had flushed 
wildly a long gunshot ahead of the pup. Charlie managed 
to catch one as it was topping a bush. 
The flock divided, some going north and the rest south. 
We started after the birds that had gone north; here we 
saw some very pretty work, roading and pointing, on the 
part of both dogs, but particularly the pup. We got 
three birds and made a couple of misses, for the brush 
was very thick. Finally the pup began working on one 
and located it at the edge of tiie woods, Charlie M. and 
I stood almost over the dog, and when the bird got up it 
hadn't got more than 10 or 15 ft. south before it 
swung sharply to the north and west. We had both fired 
just as it turned, and consequently had shot ahead of it; 
then in our hurry to better matters both snapped at it, 
only to record a clear miss again. We looked at each 
other for a second in silence, when Charlie remarked, 
"I'll be darned," when we both laughed, 
I now started for the wagon with the setter, Jim and 
Charlie R,, as I was anxious to catch the 6:28 train from 
Patchogue, as there was no train from Bellport to take 
me to the city that evening. Charlie M, said he would 
skirt the edge of the woods in the stubble with the pup 
and we could pick him up with the wagon a little further 
along; he was in hopes of finding another bird or two. 
We had gotten to the wagon and Charlie had worked 
close to 1,000ft, south when he called to us and pointed to 
the dog, who was standing rigid. We hastily loaded 
again, hurried the horse to the nearest point, leav- 
ing him unhitched, and went on a run to where 
Charlie and the pup were. The pup looked over 
his shoulder as mucu as to say, "Well, are you here 
at last?" and began roading the birds, which were run- 
ning by this time. We followed them some distance, 
when the dog left the field and went over into the under- 
growth, where Charlie finally flashed them, He got one 
when they rose, and just then two started to swing across 
me; one fairly close, and the other considerably further, I 
pulled on the nearest and had the satisfaction of seeing 
him wilt, and looking hastily around for the other, saw 
it some 40yd8. or more distant disappearing among the 
trees. I took a hasty snap at it, and telt if I didn't hit I 
wasn't far off, when Charles R. sung out, "Got it, by 
thunder!" The prettiest double of the season, Charlie 
M. said the same thing, but acknowledged afterward that 
he also had fired at the first bird, so we called honors easy 
on it. To say I was pleased but faintly expresses it. 
We drove now rapidly back to the hotel, where I had 
time to eat a little supper before Charlie M. was at the 
door with his fast mare, who took us in short order to 
Patchogue in time for the train, 
: I found that the l^oys had tied their birds up with mine 
—to make it look decent, they said. After a hearty hand- 
shake, and expressing my thanks to Charlie M. and the 
boys for the pleasant day they had given me, I got aboard 
the train ana was once more headed for the city and 
work, 
lu summing up I found it had been a mighty pleasant 
day, and notwithstanding our hard luck in finding but 
few quail, a day that had been to me entirely satisfactory, 
and 1 think a fair bag for so near New York, considering 
the short time used. 
Next day I divided my birds among my friends, and set 
to work with renewed zest in consequence of my day's 
outing, Jat Dee. 
A good story is told at the expense of a well-known 
Leopainster sportsman; it runs something like this: A 
few days ago he and another fellow went gunning; while 
walking side by side through a patch of woods they 
fiushed a large flock of quail. Both emptied their guns 
in short meter; a bird was seen to fall. The Leominster 
sportsman picked the quail up and claimed it, from the 
fact that he "always picked out his bird to shoot at when 
a flock went up;" the other fellow admitted that he "fired 
point blank into the bunch," and as he had no means of 
knowing whether or not his shots took effect, laid no 
claim to the bird. 
Mean while the dog scurried around and to the utter 
astonish oient of the gunners retrieved four more dead 
quail. 'All right," said the other fellow, "if the bird 
tnat we saw fail is yours, these four must be mine," and 
he straifihtway stowed them away in his game pocket,— 
Unknown Ex. 
The FOKEST AND STREAM is put to press each week on 
Tuesday. Correspondence intended jor publication 
should reaoh us at the latest by Monday, and as much 
earlier as prat tioable. 
HOLLAND.— IV. 
[Concluded from page 610.] 
Occasionally a few birds were found among the birches 
near where we left the team, but it was rare that we 
found more than two or three. Returning from, this 
cover, we take the first left-hand road and keep on about 
a mile, when we turn to the right and soon come to an 
old orchard on the right-hand side that is one of the most 
unlikely looking places for woodcock that could well be 
imagined. Nothing but a few scraggy apple trees, plenty 
of rocks, both large and small, without a bush for cover, 
made of this an ideal spot for woodcock to shun, but 
they were here nevertheless, and I have often seen from 
six to ten birds flushed in the small space within these 
stone walls. Upon one occasion, when here with Mr-ssrs. 
Ashmun, Bowles and Sibin, we gathered in ten of the 
beauties, and as we finished at the corner next the road 
Mr, Ashmun sat down at a low p'ace in the wall, Mr, 
Sabin taking a seat near him on top of the wall and Mr. 
Bowles occupied that reck, while 1 stood just behind him 
leaning against that crooked ash tree, then scarcely big- 
ger than my arm. Mr, Ashmun was discussing with 
Sabin the reasons that induced the woodcock to tarry 
here, when Mr. Bowles, with a merry glance to me, 
whispered, "Yellow jackets," and pointing to Sabin, 
around whom several of the pretty insects were buzzing, 
as calmly as he could awaited events. Sjme wise old 
duffer has put down in black and white that "it is the un- 
expected that happens." When you disturb a yellow 
jacket's nest it is not the "unexpected" that happens; 
thertfore, as we expected, the fun soon began, Mr. 
Ashmun started the racket by jumping to his feet 
and giving a vigorous slap on his thigh, while 
Sabin, with three or four whacks at his legs, 
flopped off the wall squarely into the nest, from 
which the infuriated inhabitants swarmed around 
his ears in such numbers that he took ty his heeis, and 
with wildly gyrating arms and heartfelt grunts he floun- 
dered over the stones and left us to our fate. Although 
Mr, Ashmun was decidedly busy in hitting out at the 
foe, he appeared to rather enjoy the general results, and 
I never heard so hearty a laugh from him as when, a 
moment later, Mr, Bowles's wide open jaws came to- 
gether with a snap as he made a vicious whack at the 
back of his neck, and with a jump that would have done 
honor to an athlete he also deserted us. In the mean- 
time I had received a fair sample of what was going in 
the shape of a slight one under the ear and a full fledged 
one considerably lower down; but as I had, as quietly as 
was possible under the circumstances, mashed the tor- 
ments, I flattered myself that my companions had not 
noticed that I was more than a spectator; but that even- 
ing, after giving a circumstantial account of the affair to 
our friend, Mr. Herring, the safe manufacturer, who had 
called to spend the evening with us, Mr. Ashmun quietly 
remarked in his inimitable manner, "A well told tale, but 
our friend has omitted two very striking points. One 
you will find just under his right ear, and the other about 
eight inches below the belt, This last is a red-hot one if 
I am any judge of the workings of the human counte- 
nance." 
After leaving "the orchard" we drive a short distanca 
to where the road turns sharp to the left. Hitching our 
team to the right-hand barway, we cross the road and are 
on the ground known as "the old place." When or for 
what reason it obtained this patronymic all my researches 
failed to discover; it was a good old place, however, and 
many delightful hours have I passed among the boun- 
teous supply of woodcock and grouse that were nearly 
always to be found here. That tangled thicket of tall 
birches in the cover in front of U3 was then of young 
growth and a favorite spot, where we often enjiyed a 
rare bit of sport; while this open pasture to the right was 
then a dense ald^r thicket, where "eye of faith and finger 
of instinct" were very necessary adjuncts to successful 
sport. Batween these two bits of cover, and extending 
for quite a distance along the lower edge, was a strag- 
gling growth of alders and birches, occasionally a dense 
patch a rod or two in extent, but generally open shooting 
clear down to the timber, where we turn to the right 
along the gently sloping hillside among the witch hazal, 
always a capital place for birds. Up the ascent a few 
steps, just at the head of that little hollow, where you 
see that large clump of witch hazal, old Trump once 
came to a point. Mr, Ashmun took position on the south 
side, Mr. Sabin by the dog, and I stood on the north side 
in that open place. Mr. Sabin stepped in ahead of the 
dog, a brace of woodcock rose, one turning to the left 
past Mr. Ashmun, while the other went straight awiay, 
both of them collapsing at nearly the same instant. At 
the crack of the guns two more sprang, one came 
my way and the other to Mr. Ashmun, The old 
dog still held his point, and we proceeded to load. 
No sooner were ramrods returne'i — for this was in 
the day of the muzzle-loader — than I moved forward a 
step or two, when, from the upper edge of the clump, 
three were flushed, Sabin making a beautiful double, 
while Mr. Ashmun doubled up the other. This we thought 
to be good work, seven birds from one point and all of 
them accounted for without a miss, as Mr, Ashmun well 
said, "Something to remember, with quickening pulse, 
when our shooting days are over." Kmdly fate vouch- 
safed me yet another souvenir of this red-letter day, that 
is still one of the chief treasures of memory's store. We 
had beat out all the cover, except a small patch of alders 
just over the wall at the beginning of the dense alder 
thicket that I have previously mentioned, when Trump 
found a woodcock at the far edge of the patch, and Sabin 
went to him and flushed the bird, which came partly 
toward me, but turned at the edge of the thicket and 
went straight away. Just as I raised my gun a grouse — 
started by a rabbit dog in the woods to the left — came by 
like a winged thunderbolt. I did not see the meteor until 
it was about crossing the line of the woodcock, but as soon 
as I caught a glimpse of it, with an inspiration born of 
my great love for the royal bird, I threw my gun well 
ahead and cut loose; then again covering the woodcock, I 
let drive and both birds struck the ground almost at the 
same instant. The memory of this day doubtless adds 
much of luster to the halo which surrounds the pleasant 
spot, but other days of most enjoyable sport also have 
their share in the pleasant emotions that swell my heart 
as often, very often, upon the pinions of thought I again 
revisit the well-remembered slopes and shady nooks of 
the dear old place. 
After working «7er this cover we return to the team, 
and passing through the barway just to the left of 
the horses' heads we follow the old road down the 
hill until we come to the reservoir, or rather to an arm of 
it that forms a little bay, surroimded for the most part 
with quite a growth of weeds. At the upper end of the 
bay on that little knoll there was then a scattering 
growth of birches and witch hazel, and we usually found 
three or four birds there, while the border of the bay 
often held a number of grouse. Beating out this cover 
down to where the bay joins the reservoir, we turned 
sharp to the left and worked out all the cover, flnishing it 
at the alder thicket close by the team, generally picking 
up a few woodcock and a grouse or two. Once when 
here with Messrs. Patten and Sabin we drove Mr, Kin- 
ney's horse old Isaac, a staid old fellow, perfectly trust- 
worthy in every respect, at least so Mr. Kinney said. 
Just as we were about to return through the barway to 
the team a grouse started from the cover below us and 
flew back along the south edge. Sabin and Patten went 
for the bird, whilp I took the team to meet them at the 
top of the hill. When I arrived there I saw a large hawk 
coming directly to me, and as he was passing over I cut 
him down: then the fun commenced, at least it was fun 
for the sppctators, so far as I could judge from the ill 
timed shouts of laughter that I heard above the roar and 
clatter of steady old Isaac and the big farm wagon, as at 
breakneck speed we fairly & w down the steep and 
crooked road, and it was not until we had rattled over the 
bridge and struck the deep sand that I succeeded in mod- 
erating the wild speed of tlie perfectly trustworthy Sir 
Isaac. Casting a retrospective glance over the scene of 
action, I noted, without a particle of surprise, that with 
the exception of myself there was absolutely nothing 
remaining in the wagon, not even a feather; but scattered 
in picturesque groups all along the road were the various 
articles that made up our cargo, while at the top of the 
hill were my two friends, still in convulsions, Sabin mak- 
ing ridiculous signals with our best blanket, while Patten 
was insanely waving the hawk above his head, and both 
making such a hideous racket that it was all that I could 
do to keep old Isaac — and small blame to him — from 
jumping into the pond. 
We have now explored all the principal woodcock 
covers in this immediate vicinity; there are, however, 
many little nooks and corners scattered along the differ- 
ent highways and byways that were capital places to pick 
up a bird or two, and well worth looking over when, as 
it sometimes happened, the main covers were not quite 
up to the mark. 
T svo such covers I must not forget. Across the road 
from the house just at the top of the first rise was a 
sparse growth of witch hazal where I have frequently 
gathered in two or three birds before breakfast, and just 
south of this, down by the brook below the Butterworth 
cover, is quite a growth of alders at the edge of the woods, 
which was also a sure place to find a stray bird or two, 
and nearly always one or more grouse could be found, 
Oae morning upon my return from this locality I met Mr. 
Kinney at the door and told him where I had been, when 
he remarked that the only time he ever went bird hunt- 
ing was several years before down near the brook. Judg- 
ing from the twinkle of his eye that there was something 
worth hearing, I asked him, "What luck?" "Well," said 
he, "I had mowed the brush after haying, and along in 
the fall when there came a good dry time I went down 
there armed with a rake and began to put the brush in 
piles ready to burn. I had been at work a short time 
when I saw a flock of quail flying toward me, and I kept 
perfectly quiet and they lit within 4ft. of me, and were 
out of sight in an instaht under a few scattered 
brush and leaves; but I knew that they were 
there, as many as twenty of them, for I saw 
them light. I had nothing but the rake, and I 
made up ray mind that I would whack it down 
upon them and get at least half a dozen ; but just then 
a happy thought struck me, and I made up my mind 
to take hold of the skirts of my coat and throw myself 
right on top of them and catch the entire lot. So I 
braced myself, meantime thmking that we would have 
seven of them — one api-^ ce for the family — on toast, and 
the others I could give away, as I had read that, although 
quail on toast is nice, too much of it is too much. So, as 
I had them all disposed of and was good and ready, I 
made my spring, and with coat tails well spread to take 
them all in I landed equarely on top of the little 
brush heap." "Well," said I, as he came to a full stop 
and drew a long breath, "how many did you get?" With 
a queer look and most expressive roll of his eye he said, 
"Well, I didn't have any to give away and none of us 
had any on toast, nor have I seen a single feather of one 
of them since; but," added he, "I'll tell you what I did 
get. I stuck a stub in my side which laid me up 'most a 
month, and ever since that time I can't bear quail on 
toast." 
Such was Holland in the good old times, and pleasant 
memories of the gloriouH days enjoyed in the well re- 
membered and dearly loved spot will remain while life 
shall last to cheer my waking huurs and bless my slum- 
bers with blissful visions of rarest sport. Although the 
chief attraction of this beautiful resort has in a great 
measure taken flight to other scenes, there is still left to 
the sportsman a fair share of the once beautiful supply 
of game; and if he be a lover of nature in its rugged wild- 
ness, and can enjoy the peaceful, calm and quiet beauty 
of woodland slope and sylvan dell, the weird music of 
babbling brook, and the restful calm of the still waters, 
there is yet left to him a wondrous store of rarest gems, 
adorned with nature's choicest setting, spread before him 
at every turn with lavish hand, pleasing the most fastid- 
ious eye with picturesque beauty, and soothing the 
troubled spirit with balm more potent than most favored 
town or proudest city can boast. Shadow. 
At Chipmunk Lodge. 
FfiOM his summer cabin on the Platfce, thirty miles 
from Ddnver, Mr. Wm, N, Byers last summer sent us the 
charming picture which is reproduced on page 5. It-is 
from a photograph by Mrs. W. F. Robinson, The chip- 
munk, wild one, had from association become trustful 
of humankind, as chipmunks are quite ready to do if 
their confidence be not betrayed. The photograph is a 
clever bit of amateur work with the camera. 
The FoEKST Atro Stream is put to press each week on Tuesday 
Oorrespondetice inte^ided for publication should rmch us at the 
latest by Monday, and as much earlier as practicable. 
