444 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
[Dkc. 4r, 1897. 
■believed lie had lulled them, for I overheard him telling 
mother that he had been a little off in his shooting, and!had 
been beaten, only killing eight out of the eighteen, and'one 
of those he rather thought had fallen to my gun. 
An incident occurred that day which showed that|Mr. 
Boyden could mark down a bird if he could not kill it. I 
had shot at a bird in a dense thicket, and was in doubt as to 
whether I had hit or not; but he said that he plainly saw it 
double up: so I sent the dog for it, and we moved on some 
80yds., when the dog came back without the bird. We went to 
help him find it. thinking that perhaps it had lodged, but we 
could find nothing of it, and I came to the conclusion that I 
had missed. But Mr. Boyden was sure that it had fallen, 
and returning to the place, he stood where I had fired, took 
his bearings, and going into the thicket stopped beside a 
stump, saying that the bird fell near there. A. moment later 
he drew it from a hole in the stump, into which it had fal- 
len, where, of course, the dog could not smell it. This was 
an excellent bit of work, and a little beyond me, although I 
was quite an expert in this line and could nearly always 
locate my bird within a yard or two. 
Mr. Boyden appeared to have taken quite a liking for me. 
and after his first visit I saw him frequently, and we spent 
many very pleasant days together among the birds each sea- 
son for a number of years. Game was very plentiful in 
those davs and, although he did not improve in his shooting, 
we usually brought in a goodly string, and so well did I 
learn to time my shot with his that he soon came to accept 
the decision of the dog without question, and I honestly be- 
lieve he really thought he was killing his birds. I have seen 
him bring them down occasionally, but as a rule they were 
nearly safe so far as he was concerned. We had a point one 
day on a bevy of quail that had escaped us the previous day 
by flying across a narrow swamp, and then going, we know 
not where, as we failed to find them; so when the dog 
pointed Mr. Boyden proposed going through the swamp to a 
bit of high ground beyond to mark them, and at once started 
in that direction. He had nearly crossed ihe swamp when 
a grouse rose some 15yds. in front of him, and at the bang- 
bang of his gun dropped stone dead hefore it was 2ft. from 
the ground. I was watching him at the time, and he was 
carrying his gun with both hands in position and the gun 
low down and pointing straight in front, and as it happened 
exactly at the bird as she rose. But the most amusing part 
of it was that he never halted nor broke step during the 
whole performance, nor did he even turn his head, but kept 
straight on at an even step, and as he came to the bird 
picked it up and put it in his pocket, still keeping step; nor 
did he pause until he had crossed the swamp to the open, 
when he stopped with his back toward me and proceeded to 
load. 
When all was ready he mounted a stump on the lop of the 
knoll and waved his hand, when 1 flushed the bevy, which 
flew in the same direction they had taken on the preceding 
day. Picking up the two I had killed, I started toward Mr. 
Boyden, but he signaled for me to stop, and creeping to me 
informed me that the bevy had taken a complete circle and 
settled at the head of the swamp behind us, and not more 
than 80yd8. distant. This performance was something new 
to me at this time, althougli I have since quite a number of 
times seen about the same dodge tried with more or less suc- 
cess by quail, and on several occasions I have known wood- 
cock to try the same trick. The quail, I am satisfied, knew 
what they were about, but as to the woodcock having any 
ideas upon the subject I very much doubt. 
One woodcock I remember missing with both barrels that 
flew in a circle and alighted withm 1 0yds. behind me. Mr, 
Boyden was not near^enough to shoot at the first rise, but 
came up and flushed it again before I had reloaded, and also 
took a couple of shots at it, but t,he bird kept on and again 
described a circle, alighting within a short distance of the 
place where it had just started from. Upon the next rise it 
took only three barrels to bring him down, and we found 
upon examination that some one within a day or two had 
put a shot into the left wing near the body, which accounted 
for the erratic flight. 
There was a grouse frequenting an alder run that had 
escaped us several times by flushing wild and crossing into 
an extensive forest, where we failed to find it. We were in 
the vicinity, and Mr. Boyden proposed going around to cut 
off the bird in case I should fail to get a shot. So 1 waited 
until he had taken his position, about 200yds. from me and 
in plain sight, when I sent the dog into the run and kept on 
the outside, but had gone but a short distance when the bird 
rose up about half way between us and flew, quartering, 
toward him. not more than 4ft. from the ground. Just as 
he pulled the first trigger another grouse rose into the line of 
fire and both of them doublea up at the report. Notwith- 
standing the thorough work of the first barrel, the second 
one had to come; and as I joined him and the dog brought 
in the two birds, he straightened up and asked me what I 
thought of that for a double. 
One of my warmest friends, Fred Eaton, who also lived 
in Worcester, frequently accompanied Mr. Boyden to my 
home, and we invariably had lots of fun. We were after 
grouse one day, and they were standing together on a little 
knoll, while I worked out a corner and then started toward 
them. When about 100yds. below them, a grouse rose near 
me and flew to the left, and as I dropped it I heard Mr. Boy- 
den's gun, both barrels, and then saw him start on a run for 
the bird. I saw that he did not know that I was in the 
vicinity, and so I at once turned back in the thicket and 
came around to the knoll where Eaton was standing in the 
full enjoyment of the scene. Motioning for him to keep 
quiet, I hailed Mr. Boyden, who was approaching with 
measured stride, and asked him what was up. He did not 
say a word until close to us. when he finished his journey 
with "ninety-five, ninety six, ninety- seven"; then with a 
5e:f satisfied air he exc -u'iued- "I call that a pretty good 
i<jaton and I were as sc -j as judges and warmly congrat- 
ulated him ; but when he .ook out his knife and cut two 
stakes, and planted one where he had stood and then started 
to place the other where the bird fell we had to retire to the 
rear for fear thai our levity might overflow and perhaps 
mar the beauty of the performance. X was all right when 
he returned, but we didn't see Eaton again for more than 
half an hour, and when he joined us he was on a broad grin 
in spite of his best efforts to keep a sober face: but he got 
out of it in very good shape by telling us an anecdote that he 
had that moment thought of. 'Although the story was rather 
funny, I fear that both of us gave it much more than its 
meed in the way of laughter. After this, whenev<r Mr. 
Boyden was in this vicinity, especially if some one else w s 
present, the story was told and the ground was stepped over 
again. He, of "course, was perfectly sincere in his belief 
that he killed the bird, as he did not see me and the noise of 
my gun was drovFued^iH the report of his. Although I 
heartily enjoyed this at the time, I did not quite like the 
idea of vouching for so long a shot as I was obliged to do 
every time we came to the place; but rather than spoil the 
evident pleasure that Mr. Boyden took in the recital of the 
story I quieted my conscience with the assurance that this 
was but a few paces beyond what I had often heard told by 
those who I knew knew better, and I also knew that they 
did not have the excuse of attendant circumstances that Mr. 
Boyden did to justify them in making so remarkable a shot, 
Mr. Boyden. "Eaton and I wei-e shooting in the maples, a 
noted resort for game in these days, and were working toward 
the big spring to eat our lunch, when a grouse rose wild, and 
crossed tolanother run nearly in our rear. Mr. Boyden pro- 
posed taking our game and going direct to the spring, while 
Eaton and I followed the bird ; so after unloading our pockets, 
we started and soon had it, and we then followed the run, 
which ended near the spring; but when we arrived there we 
saw nothing of Mr. Boyden, and were wondering what had 
detained him, when we heard his gun some twenty rods away, 
and at once started in his direction; but before we reached 
there we heard from him again, and soon after we saw him 
in an open meadow just as he had finished reloading, and as 
the cover we were in was favorable, we lay low and watched 
to see what was up. 
Taking a step or two, he kicked at a heavy bunch of grass, 
and then moving on to the next bunch he kicked that, when 
out went a quail that made for the opposite side of the mea- 
dow ; but it had not. gone 10yds. before bang-bang added 
speed to its flight, and just as it was disappearing over the 
fringe of hazel that bordered the meadow, Mr. Boyden with 
a surprised tone, ejaculated, "See-e-him-gol" Then he re- 
loaded The performance was repeated, the only variation 
that we noticed was that he appeared to be still more sur- 
prised, as he straightened up and repeated, "See e-him go!" 
After one more round he appeared t > be weakening, anri we 
broke cover, and approaching him, asked what was up, just 
as though we had at that moment come upon the scene. 
"Quail are un," said he, "and they are so wild that T can 
do nothing with them; let us go and eat our lunch and then 
we will show them what's what." 
It was more than three years after this performance before 
Mr. Boyden knew that I had any knowledge of the affair. 
A meeting of the Massachusetts State Sportsmen's Associa- 
tion, of which organization he was president, was held at 
Worcester, but he'had been quite unwell for some days, and 
was not expected to be present, but he came, however, and 
as I saw him enter the hall all bundled up and bent over, I 
crossed over to him, and with a surprised tone ejaculated: 
"See— e— him— go!" It would have done you good to have 
seen the change that came over him as with a comical ex- 
pression he shook hands, then pitching his cane into the 
corner, he took off his overcoat and said that he came there 
a sick man and intended to stay but a minute or two, but 
that his friend from Connecticut had with a few magic 
words effected a complete cure. He then called the meeting 
to order and gave us a rousing speech, that every one who 
heard it said was much the best he ever made. After the 
meeting adjourned he came to me and remarked that he had 
thought until this evening that he alone had enjoyed that bit 
of fun with the quail. 
Once when coming down for a shoot he brought with him 
his friends, Bowker and Coburn, and as they were both 
joUy good fellows, we had a most enjoyable time. 
In work'Dg over quite an extensive cover Boyden and 
Bowker took one side while Coburn and I took the other, 
and as a small screech owl alighted near us Coburn shot it, 
and after we had examined it he put it in his pocket. When 
we met the others it was time for lunch, and we crossed over 
to a spring and spreading on the grass a napkin we arranged 
our lunch and proceeded to enjoy ourselves. The game bags 
were thrown in a heap, and I noticed that Coburn was busy 
with them for a short time, but thought nothing of the mat- 
ter. When our repast was finished and the pipes were all 
going Mr. Boyden asked us what luck we had, and after we 
had given the particulars he recounted their adventures, 
giving full details of each and every bird started, and when 
he had disposed of every one Mr. Bowker added that he had 
also killed a quail, the only one that they had seen, and that 
it was a very handsome one, and he reached for his game 
bag, and putting in his hand pulled out Coburn's owl. 
I think that I would give more for a photograph of that 
group than I would for any hunting scene that I have ever 
witnessed, although I hardly beUeve that any one kodak 
could have reproduced the look of surprised wonder that 
came over Bowker as he turned the little screech-owl over 
in his hand, then as he emptied the bag and searched in vain 
for that quail amid the shouts and screams of his delighted 
audience, then to see him again pick up the owl and turn 
him around and slowly shake his head with the look of per- 
plexed wonder still holding its own— was almost too mnch 
for us; but there was yet more to come, for as he somewhat 
recovered he solemnly averred that the dog pointed it and 
when he kicked it out of the grass it flew just like a quail, 
and he really thought that it was a quail, but when the dog 
brought it in Boyden was some distance ahead and calling 
to him, so he hurriedly put it in his bag with only a glance 
at the bird, which he thought to be an unusually handsome 
one, then with a deprecating glance at us as though he 
thought that we had made noise enough over a little thing 
like that, he added, in a tone that was intended to be care- 
less as well as cheerful: "I don't believe that we would have 
had one-tenth part of the fun we have had over this little 
fellow had I killed fifty quail." 
After we had rested awhile and partially digested our feast 
of owl, Mr. Boyden proposed that we visit a famous grouse 
cover some half mile away, and we at once took up the line 
of march in that direction. Just before we came to the 
cover there was a very steep side hill, and at the foot of it 
was a bit of meadow some ten rods in width. Our course 
down the hill was by a cart path that at an easy grade led 
down to the meadow; but when we climbed ihe fence where 
the cart path begun, somehow Mr. Boyden slipped his trolley, 
and before we knew what was up, over the brink he went; 
aod such a getting down hill I never saw. He first tried it 
end over end for two or thi'ee turns, then he went sideways 
a short distance, but this did not seem to quite suit, and he 
doubled up and rolled part of the way: in fact, he went 
pretty much through the list of known gymnastic perform- 
iinces and then struck out into the unknown, and I will say 
that for striking effect and originality I have never seen the 
performance equaled. We stood there spellbound gazing at 
the rapidly gyratiag form, and the least that I e^ipected was 
to hear the familiar bang! bang! of his gun and to see him 
break himself in two. Bat it is always the unexpected that 
happens, and how he ever got down the 50 or 60f l. of steep 
side hill in that style without doing himself serious damage 
is more than 1 can account for; but get there he did, and in 
first-class condition, striking the meadow square on his feet, 
and headed straight for the cover without a scratch on his 
gun or rent in his clothes. There he was, as straight as a 
ramrod and marching with even step in the proper direction, 
with his gun on his shoulder in proper position, with not 
even the suspicion of a turn of his head or a single sign that 
anything was at all out of the common. 
He had gone at least twenty steps before we recovered 
our faculties, but when we did come to a realizing sense of 
the condi.ion of affairs, we had to hold fast to each other to 
keep from following his example down the slope, and as 
shout after shout rang out our mirth was not diminished as 
we saw him keep straight on and make no sign, and soon he 
disappeared in the cover toward his allotted stand on the op- 
posite side. 
When we came together again and began to jolly him 
about his tumble he put on a deeply surprised look, and in 
his driest manner allowed that we fellows took the queerest 
notions into our heads of any crowd he ever met ; then in a 
very straightforward, off-hand manner he explained that as 
he had to go f ui'ther than we did he took the shortest cut, add- 
ing very dryly that he found it considerably nearer than the 
east path and mnch more expeditious. Of course we had^ 
nothing more to say, and proceeded iu search of fresh ad- 
ventures: but to this day, whenever I hear that-word "ex- 
peditious," lam again standing on the brow of that slope' 
breathlessly watching a struggling mass of wildly gyrating' 
arms and legs as they expedite down the hill at a speed that 
fairly makes me dizzy. 
Mr. Boyden and I were shooting in the maples and hadi 
spread our lunch near the big spring, and were about to seat 
ourselves when some one flushed a grouse aboi\t 75yds. below 
us that flew toward us, when quick as a flash Mr. Boyden 
grabbed my gun, which was leaning against a tree near him, 
and as the bird was passing some 20yds. distant he let go 
and brought it down, and then pulled the other trigger, but 
as he had only cocked one hammer, this portion of the per- 
formance was an utter failure. Then he looked at the gun 
with a critical eye, poised it m his hands and bringing it to 
his shoulder began taking a sight over the barrels at different 
objects. Finally he set it down and turning to me said that 
it was no wonder that I killed my birds, and that any one 
could do so with a gun that hung like that, adding that he 
would have his gun altered to match mine at the first oppor- 
tunity, so when the season was over he wrote me to send 
him my gun, which I did, and he took it with his to the 
best gunmaker he knew and succeeded in getting a first-class 
job done, but the wrong article was altered over, as I could, 
see no difference in the result obtained, Shadow. 
Springfield, Mass. 
IN THE MOUNTAINS. 
Columbia Falls, Mont. — My cousin Joe Eogers arrived 
here Oct. 1 from Nebraska on an extended visit. As it 
was his first experience in the mountains, you can well 
imagine, dear readers (especially those of you who have 
been there), something about it. 
Being very busy on the ranch when he came, we didn't 
get off on our liunt until Oct. 30. Early that morning 
found us starting up the North Fork of the Flathead Eiver, 
fully equipped for a two weeks' outing. We had three 
pack horaes, two saddle horses and, above all, the camera. 
Joe is an amateur photographer, and I got more real en- 
joyment out of that camera than I did out of my gun. 
On the night of the 3Lst we camped at the Coal Banks 
on the North Fork, thirty- five miles north of Columbia 
Falls. We saw nothing of note along the trail; got some 
fool-hens each day, thus we had fresh meat from the start. 
These were the first fool-hens that Joe had ever seen, and 
having just come from a quail country he found the dif- 
ference was 80 great that he went so far as to examine 
their intellectual parts, to see if it was not impaired. 
Nov. 1. — It snowed in the morning, so we stayed in 
camp till about noon. When the weather cleared up, we 
rustled the horses and moved across the river toward the 
main range of the Rockies, four miles. 
Here we struck the Long brothers trapping camp. As 
soon as the horses were unsaddled they were turned loose, 
as we did not expect to use them again for a week. There 
was no danger of losing them, as the feed was good and 
they had been there before. 
The younger of the Long hrothers, Aaron, made us wel" 
come. The elder brother, Ed, had gone to Columbia Falls 
to buy the winter supply of grub, and was not expected 
back for several days. After a hot supper of fat venison 
and coffee, we sat around the fireplace making plans for 
the hunt. During our discussion Aaron remarked, in a 
smiling way, that I had better devote my time to fool-hens 
and rabbits, as they were about the right size for the cali- 
ber of my rifle; a .32-40 single-shot. Aaron used an old 
Sharp's .45-70. He, however, had great respect for the 
little .32-.40 when the hunt was over. Joe used a .40-65 
Winchester, which is as good a rifle for all-around hunt- 
ing as is made, I think. Joe wanted to kill a deer and 
take some pictures. I didn't care so long as we had fresh 
meat in camp, and as Joe had a good time, so Aaron pro- 
posed that, as he had just taken up his traps preparatory 
to moving them to the second camp for the winter, he 
might go with us, to which we readily agreed. In the 
morning we caught up a horse, and packed up five 
days' rations for three men, blankets, camera, and struck 
out, Aaron leading the way. After traveling four miles 
through the timber, up one ridge and down another, we 
came to the foot of Logging Creek Lake. Here we un- 
packed and turned the horse loose; he went right back to 
the horses he bad left three hours before. 
We saw numerous deer tracks on the way up, but no 
deer; about 2in. of snow was on the ground. We built a 
fire and hoiled coffee, fried some venison, which we 
brought with us from Aaron's camp. 
After dinner we piled our outfit into a "dug-out" (some 
might call it a canoe by mistake), which had been made 
by a trapper the year before, and all three of us got in, 
with the dog. an eight-months-old pup, on his first trip. 
The boat was so heavily loaded that an inch to the right 
or left would swamp us; so we sat still, looked straight 
ahead and said nothing, while Aaron paddled the dug-out 
carefully along. We couldn't stand it any longer, so Joe, 
myself and the dog got out and walked along the shore, 
while Aaron paddled the dug-out. We made six miles in 
about three hours. It was then about 4 o'clock, so we 
*^Wo^80on had supper cooking and camp fixed up under 
a large spruce tree. Joe thought it was just fine, and as 
