AipRK, 8, i8gg.] 
FOHEST AND STREAM. 
^79 
O>nfat)ulations of the Cadi* — ^XVII. 
Pooling of InterestSt 
The Cadi and TUltike arrived early on the grounds oft the WOEa- 
ing of the second day, to the end that they might have everything 
perfected so far as they were able to do so, thereby avoiding 
many of the unpleasant and unprofitable incidents of the day 
before. They had learned the lesson that, if the machinery breaks 
down or stops, the revenue is impaired accordingly. 
The Cadi looked rather worn and passe. He was very mach 
fatigued at the end of the previous day, and Hopie Jane in 
consequence was more than ordinarily alarmed for his safety, 
in so much so that, as he sat loUing in his easy chair, she found 
it necessary to heat and administer two large pitcherfuls of cider 
to him, afte:r which he, with seeming reluctance, ate a hearty 
supper, then took a stiff dose of morphine and slept well through 
the night. 
"Before vie, begifl, good Moke," said tbe Cadi, "let us sit our- 
selves down and rest a while, for I am weary." 
"Weary!" commented Moke in surprise, "why the day has not 
yet begun, and you have done nothing yet to iiiakfe you weary." 
"It makes me weary to think of work, my good friend. Men 
of a gross fiber never have these finer feelings concerning phys- 
ical or mental effort. Even with them, work is entirely an ac- 
quired habit. No sensible man, according to my view, ever was 
born with an instinct for work. I would do violence to my 
convictions if I asserted that I liked to work. But now that we 
are committed to the labors of this day, will you tell me what 
plans you have made for conducting the .live-bird shooting, and 
thus we may proceed quickly and understandingly?" saying which 
the good Cadi stretched himself at length on a bench with much 
apparent contentment. 
"We have formed a number of plans for the day, and T think 
that we should make a little money if they work all right. You 
know that we will have almost an entirely different crowd here 
to-day, only one or two of the target shooters of yesterday being 
live-bird shooters also. Five of our own club members have 
agreed to shoot the live-bird programme clear through and pool 
the results. They are pretty fair shots, and as I will do the 
handicapping myself, I will see that they are not placed too far 
back." 
"If you were to keep in mind that you could also place some 
of the visitors well back, it would also assist somewhat," said 
the Cadi, with a most benevolent expression. 
"Certainly, certainly," Moke acquiesced. "But we've a pretty 
safe advantage in another way. Each one of our men will know 
which trap will be pulled when he goes to the score." 
"Oh, yes; I see," said the Cadi, now showing signs of anima- 
tion. "I suppose the puller will move the rope of the trap that 
is to be pulled as our man goes to the score, and the wrong 
rope for the others if they should happen to suspect anything 
preconcerted," 
"N-N-N-No, No," replied Moke, with iniacli rising emphasis, 
"that would not do with the talent which will be here to-day. 
They would detect it in a short while. We have arranged a better 
method. The trapper scratches his head with one finger, or two 
or five, which correspondingly indicates which trap will be pulled; 
one of our party stands well away to one side from the trapper 
and grasps the railing with one hand, showing one finger, or two 
or five, thus repeating the signal, though it is not visible to 
those who are not in the pool. Great idea, isn't it?" Both 
rubbed their hands together and chuckled merrily. 
'"Who are the members of our club who will shoot?" queried 
the Cadi. 
"Why, CatawaUler Tityrus, Sure Thing Twist, Divide Always, 
Fatty Sliver and Long Green have all pledged themselves to 
come, and a number besides are in the pool financially, although 
these mentioned, our best ones, will do the shooting. We should 
with this combination win everything in sight." 
Just then a farm wagon drove up with several crates of birds for 
the club. Most of them were dull and weak. This the Cadi 
noted and commented upon. He intimated that Moke should 
have secured good birds. 
"Cadi," exclaimed Moke, with some impatience, "these birds 
cost quite a sum less than would first-class birds or even better 
birds. We save good money on the first cost. More of these, 
birds will be killed than would be if they were first-class, and 
we therefore will have more dead birds to sell, so that, with 
poor birds, we catch the profits going and coming. Then again, 
when we get a really good bird, we can have the puller spring 
it on some of the strangers within the gates, and thus we have 
a competition which is conducted in a really intelligent man- 
ner," Moke closed his left eye and rubbed the side of his 
nose with his forefinger as he looked at the Cadi, who smiled 
responsively and seemed to be quite satisfied that all was for 
the best. 
The shooters soon began to arrive, and entries were made in 
the first event, 15 birds, $10 entrance, birds extra. 
It is a peculiar feature of live-bird shooting that the shooter 
is nervously keyed up to a much higher pitch and feels alto- 
gether different from what he does when shooting targets. He first 
of all stands at the score alone, and has the center of the stage 
As it were for the time being, whereas in target shooting' his 
individuality is lost in that he is but one of a squad. Then 
there is a different emotion when prepared to shoot at some- 
thing which is actvially alive from that which one (eels when 
shooting at inanimate things. 
Thus_ when Rooney, one of the target shooters, went to the 
scor«, his knees were weak and shaky. He had to brace and 
stiffen himself to conceal his trepidation and to steady himself 
for the shot. He got a bird from No. 3 trap and killed it 
with the first barrel nevertheless. As he turned from the score, 
his face wore the happy look which may be seen on the faces 
of sleeping babes which are dreaming of angels. 
Rsfefeeiog "Without Thinking, 
Sure Thing was next. He got a hot incomer from No. 1 
trap, shot behind it with the first barrel, and, making the same 
error in part with the second, shot one leg and a part of the tail 
off, which fell two or three yards away, precisely on the boundary. 
The bird continued on its -flight and disappeared in the blue 
horizon. The mangy dog, which acted as retriever, galloped 
about frantically, and barked sharply at every jump. 
. "Dead bird!" said Moke, who was refereeing. 
. Immediately there were angry protests from every side. "Lost 
bird!" "Lost bird!" "Where are your eyes, man?" etc., etc., 
were shouted. 
"Easy, friends," said Moke, as he raised his hand to impose 
silence. "I am conscientiously refereeing this shoot under the 
rules, and under the rules that bird is a dead bird." 
"You're crazy," said Rooney. "A bird which flies away before 
our very eyes cannot possibly be a dead bird." 
"Perhaps ygp inay know' piore' about it than the rules," re-; ' 
torted Moke. "But when 1 say that the bird is dead atid have 
the rules to back me, I consider that it is useless to talk further 
over the matter." 
"Show us the rule!" "Show us the rule!" cried several, im- 
patiently. 
".A^ll right; since you insist," Moke replied. He pulled a small 
booklet from his pocket and read as follows: " 'Should any por- 
tion of the bird be on the line or touching it, such bird shall 
be declared a dead bird and shall be scored as such.' Do 
you see that leg and tail feathers exactly on the line. Aren't 
they a portion of the bird? If they are a portion of the bird, 
then the rule is very cxplicit--the bird must be scored dead." 
"But the rules means that the bird is lying on the line, part 
within and part without," objected several. 
"Then why doesn't the rule say so?" Moke retorted. "On 
the contrary, it sayS if any portion of the bird is, on the boundary 
line. Now, a portion of that bird is on the line, and that portion 
you will admit is dead. Even if I were to violate the rule and say 
the bird was lost, it would not be true, for here is this portion of 
it on the ground before us, and it is certainly dead. A part of 
the bird has been saved, so it is not all lost." 
"But 'portion' means a part of the whole bird in its entirety," 
objected Rooney, strenuously. 
"Isn't a 'portion' the same also when it is removed," retorted 
Moke. "When you order a 'portion' of roast beef, do you expect 
the waiter to bring you the whole carcass of the ox? I believe 
myself that the bird is a lost bird, and that the rule meant to say 
so, but didn't. But I can't drag in my personal opinions into 
the matter, for I am too conscientious to do other than what 
the rules require, particularly when Sure Thing is a member 
of our c''''^j." 
"If this kind of sure thing Is going t6 Continue, we'll quit," 
said Rooney, and several eagerly added, "Yes, we will." But 
they all continued shooting just the same. 
Fatty Sliver rocked easily sidewise to the score, as he shifted 
from right to left to catch his centers of gravity, which were 
wide apart. He shot his left barrel first and his second mis- 
fired. 
"Lost bird!" declared Moke. 
"What?" exclaimed several in unison. 
"Lost bird, if you must have a decision repeated before you 
can understand it!" replied the referee. 
"Probably you find that in the rules?" commented Rooney, who 
also wished to be sarcastic. 
"Certainly, of course I do," Moke replied, "and to save a 
long and tiresome discussion such as we had a while ago, I 
will at once read the rule to you;" whereupon he read it as 
follows: "'If the shooter's gun misfires with the right barrel, and 
he does not fire the second barrel, he shall be allowed another 
bird.' Now you will observe, gentlemen, that it was Fatty's 
right barrel which missed, and as there was only another barrel 
that must necessarily have been his second, which he fired. It 
is true that he technically fired his second barrel first, as it is 
also true that it was his right which misfired. The right being 
first under the rules, the wrong barrel was first in fact. Therefore 
it is a lost bird." 
"But 'right barrel' means first barrel," objected several. 
"The framers of these rules knew the difference between a 
first barrel and a right barrel. If they had meant it as you say 
they would have so said. I am further convinced that I am right 
because of the caption to the rule, namely, 'Misfires with Right 
Barrel.' If a shooter shoots his second barrel first under my ruling 
he does so at his peril," and Moke glared at the throng which 
gathered about him. 
"All right," retorted Rooney. "We might as well go and shoot, 
for it is a fruitless task attempting to drum any sense into your 
head." 
"Wait a bit," exclaimed Fatty. "I protest the decision on the 
ground that the referee exceeded his authority and had no right 
whatever to make the decision exceping by implication. Rule 
2, entitled 'Duties of Referee,' declares that the referee shall 
see that the traps are properly set at the beginning of the match 
and kept in order to the finish, and kept properly filled; and on 
request he must test cartridges for improper loading. There is 
nothing more. That is all allowed the referee in the way of 
duties. It is not your duty to referee, for tfie rules, having de- 
fined your duty, withhold what is not allowed. You simply 
look after the traps and loads." 
"You are foolish," retorted Moke. "I have it on goo^ author- 
ity that any good referee can adjudicate well under these rules." 
"The rules are good rules," replied Fatty. "But the fact that 
a good referee could adjudicate properly under them is outside 
the issue. Such a referee could act well under any other rules 
or no rules at all. That plea is a begging of the question. Whether 
a referee could or could not do certain things has no bearing 
on inaccuracies of statement, loose construction and redundant 
clauses. The imperfections are there, just the same, regardless of 
who is referee." 
"The matter is no longer before the referee. It is already settled. 
Next man to the score," and Moke looked far from pleased with 
his Job. 
Long Green stepped to the score with a pump gun. He was 
unfortunate in having a misfire when he pulled the trigger for his 
first shot. He handed the gun to the referee, as the rules require. 
Moke saw that the hammer was down, and he promptly decided 
that it was a misfire. 
"That will not do," said Long Green, by way of protest. "You 
are a great stickler for observing the rules, and the rule on this 
point is as follows: 'Whenever a cartridge misfires, the shooter 
must on no account open his gun, but shall hand it to the referee 
for his inspection, and it shall be the referee's duty to try both 
triggers without having previously opened the gun for the purpose 
of cocking it.' Now I insist that you pull both triggers on that 
repeater, as the rule requires. It states 'whenever,' and this is 
one of the whenevers." 
"But there is only one trigger on this gun, and you are trying 
therefore to exact an impossibility," Moke replied. 
"The rules are there, it is so in them, and we expect you to work 
according to them," was the retort. 
"But misfires are provided for in case of reoeaters," answered 
Moke. 
"Not at all," rejoined Green. "When, the brass shell pulls away 
from the paper, or when the extractor fails to extract, the rule 
allows another bird; but there is no mention whatever of -a mis- 
fire." 
"Well, then, I allow another bird, because the extractor, failed 
to extract." replied Moke promptly. 
"But I did not pump the action," said Green. 
"That is not the issue at all. The extractor is the subject,, not 
you. Now, the extractor either extracted or it did not. It did 
not. It therefore failed. The matter is settled. Another bird." 
"Green shot and grassed his bird neatly. 
Divide Always was the next man at the score. His bird was 
wing-broken, and dropped near the boundary. The dog rioted 
aroupd in a sensgless attempt to locate it, hnt failed. 
"Call that dog in I" cried Moke, in a peremptory voice to the 
handler. Turning then to Divide, he said, "You have just two 
minutes in which to gather that bird." Divide placed his gun 
on the platform and was starting hastily for the bird, when Moke 
exclaimed, "Hold onl You can't go for that bird till the dog 
comes in to his handler." The dog meantime was running 
about lawlessly, entirely disobedient, and it was quite five minutes 
before the handler could get him in hand. "Lost bird!" ruled 
Moke. 
"Lost nothing," exclaimed Divide, excitedly. "I have been 
studying the rules myself, and this is what governs the case: 
'Then , as soon as tlie dog has returned to his handler, the shooter, 
or some person designated by him, shaH go to gather the bird, 
and the tiitie limit of two minutes shall commence from the 
time the dog returned to its handler.' '' 
"That seems very sound, it is true," admitted Moke, "but I was 
working on the clause which precedes that one, which is as 
follows: 'Where a dog is used for retrieving birds, if the dog can- 
not locate the bird, the time limit shall not be considered to 
have commenced until the referee has directed the handler of the 
dog to call the dog in.' " 
"Well, which clause governs?" queried Divide. 
"Give it up," replied Moke. 
"I should, however, presume that the clause you read governs 
the matter, but if so of what use at all is the other clause?" 
When at length it came Rooney's turn again he dropped his bird 
near the dead line. The bird was hard hit in the body, but was 
r- still vigorous, and if the dog rushed upon it, it would to a cer- 
tainty flutter out. It was weakening as every second passed. 
Rooney, observing this, stood at the score, and neither turned 
nor opened his gun, 
"Why don't you order tbe dog s^nt to retrieve?" demanded 
Moke, impatiently. 
"That's entirely my affair," was the retort. "I am only taking 
my rights under the rules. I want that bifd to die before I tall 
for the dog." 
"I will order him "'sent myself if you do not do so immediately," 
said Moke, with some asperity. 
"That is entirely outside of your authority.. The shooter has 
the authority in this case. Look at the rules and learn all of 
ihem instead of a part!" said Rooney, saucily. 
Moke read as follows: '■' 'The shooter after firing must call 
"Man" or "Dog"; should he fail to do so, the opening of his 
gun shall be considered as a signal by the handler to let the dog 
go.' " 
"In that case," said Rooney, "you will please wait till I open 
my gun before the dog is sent for the bird. I will open it when 
I feel that that bird cannot fly." 
Generosity* 
At the end of the day the home talent had most of the money, 
which had been put up, and a jolly good time beside. Several 
had lost some money, but Rooney was "broke." He had not a 
cent left. In this strait, he went to the Cadi and asked for a 
loan; but the good Cadi, whatever might be his inclination, was 
never in a position to loan money. 
But there is a beautiful trait among the fraternity of trap-shooters, 
which is that a stranded brother who has lost his money is sure 
to receive sufficient assistance to insure his return to his domicile, 
or at least from the shooters' vicinity. There was a little running 
around and private talking one with another, and after a while 
a railroad man, who was present, was prevailed upon to furnish 
him a pass and get him out of the country. 
I trust that the wise and gentle reader will excuse the apparent 
egotism displayed in the use of the personal pronoun, which 
I find to be more or less essential at this juncture. I thought 
that a bit of spirited poetry, apropos of the generosity of trap- 
shooters toward each other under circumstances similar to those 
aforementioned, would give a touch of color and sweetness to this 
noble trait, but, rake my memory over as carefully as I would, 
I could not find anything even remotely worthy of so delicate 
association. In this dilemma, I turned to our Editor-in-Chief, 
Mr. C. B. Reynolds, and asked his advice on this point, with a 
feeling of certainty that I was thereby in a fair way to save the 
day. After glancing over the MS. in a nonchalant manner for 
a few moments, he assured me that the matter was one in which 
the poetry was necessarily made to order to secure a proper fit, 
as nothing in the regular stock would serve with just precision; 
then he asked me directly: "Why do yon not write the needed 
poetry yourself?" 
I confessed that I had tried some years ago, but did not meet 
with the encouragement which filigree work in words deserved. 
"Well." he remarked, "the writing of poetry in general is diffi- 
cult, if it be good; but writing poetry which is good enough for 
this is easy. I will assist you myself." Thereupon he calmly 
wrote, oflf-hand, as follows: 
The Golden Rule. 
(In its application to Coon Hunting.) 
A sportsman true from Kalamazoo 
A-cooning came to the Kanakakee; 
For there, 'twas told, the creatures grew. 
A flock of coons to every tree. 
But lost in the mazes of Kankakee, 
He began to boohoo for Kalamazoo; 
And since he'd spent his very last V. 
Unable to quiet his hullabaloo, 
They shipped him free from Kankakee— 
Deadheading him through to Kalamazoo. 
"For," said the benevolent Kankakeeans, . 
And this they wrote to the Kalamazooans, 
"As we'd have you-uns do to we-uns. 
The same should we-«ns do to you-uns." 
Bernard 
Waters. 
1 he Hiird annual spring tournament of the Bison Gun Club 
Chas. H. Werhn, secretary, to be held April 5 and 6 has a pro- 
gramme of targets and live birds, the first day devoted to the 
former, the second to the latter. There are ten target events 
varvuig from 10 to 20 targets, 200 all told, with a uniform entr^ 
of 75 cents, a total of $7.50 for the day. Three dollars are added 
to each event making a total of $30 for the day. Twentv oer 
cent. will be deducted from purses of those making 90 per cent 
or better, to be divided equally among five contestants, who make 
the lowest . scores, shooting through the programme. " Those 
who wish can shoot for targets only. On the second dav there 
are three live-bird events. Nos. 1 and 2 are at 10 live hirfli <o 
entrance, both open to all. No. 3 is the Bidwell troohv 9^ 
live birds, $13.75 entrance, birds included. Shootine L 
day .begins at 9:30. oHooong on this 
Mr. E. E. Lincoln, Boston, writes us that on April M fht. 
annual tournament of the Hmgham Gun Club will be heW rm 
its grounds at Sot,th Hingham, Mass. The prindpal even t w^H 
be a handicap race of 100 birds, known angles, $5 entrisnnp 7Ji 
This shoot is looked forward to. by al! t#e cracks "orwestSS 
Massachusetts, .and a large crow4 as sure to be isi attendance 
