>T AND STREAM. 
323 
m the easy chair, watching the wreaths of bhte smoke 
curling from the old briar root, he sees all the scenes 
of former outings, with his genial companions. 
How his heart goes out to the genial comrade, how 
he cherishes the memories of the past outings together! 
How he longs for the time to come when they may 
share the same blanket, lounge before the same camp- 
P.re, cast from the same boat, or face the storm together 
•again. Some of these old friends, alas! .have crossed 
over the river to rest in the shade of the trees. 
He likes to while away a tew quiet hours in the den. 
He loves to overhaul his traps, unpack his hunting chest, 
oil his reels, clean and polish his guns and throw them 
to his shoulder an-d sight them at imaginary birds. The 
old dog. curled up on the best rug, keeps his eye on his 
master, and when he sees him take up the gun, raises his 
hciu] with an expectant look. He, too, loves the sport 
and the den with its soft rugs and cosey fire. 
In this room the owner always finds thin.gs just as 
he left them. When he comes in tired from a long tramp 
he can sling one rubber boot into one corner and. one 
into the other with perfect impunity, and it is all right — 
he will know just where to find them. The old adage 
of a place for everything and everything in its place 
will not do for him. He is more lavish; he has a hundred 
places for everything; but if no female invades his retreat 
with a search warrant for loose real estate, it will not 
take him long to locate any of his things; he seems to 
do it by instinct. All of the servants of the household 
are imbiied with the idea that all who enter here with 
dust broom or brush are like the prisoners of the 
Bastile and "leave all hope behind." So, by general 
consent he is given that room. .'Vnd he is better off there 
among his idols than leaning over the pool table or 
setting around the hotels, giving his views of the Philip- 
pine islands, or in some quiet room having a little game 
"with just enough in sight to make it interesting." 
There are moments when he likes to be alone, and 
the den offers the opportunity. Perhaps he had been 
out all day after game, and returned with an empty bag, 
after boasting of the amount he was going to bring in. 
The chagrin makes him feel "that there are moments 
when he wants to be alone." Or while fishing his boat 
capsizes, and he goes overboard. Wet and plastered with 
mud, b}' taking the back way he arrives home unseen. 
"There are moments when he wants to be alone." Or 
he hears that the rivers are full of ducks; he takes his 
headlight and spends the night after them — and comes 
home in the morning cold, tired and sleepy. M'tth not a 
feather to show. These are moments when he wants to 
be alone. C. L. Bradley. 
Tennessee. 
Nitro. 
It is only since the new powder has become generally 
known that his friends have found a name for him, and 
now, in the field or camp, he is most appropriately 
"Nitro." An all-round good fellow, his predominant 
characteristic is the ability to act before the average man 
has even mentally purposed. We gathered our parapher- 
nalia for a day's outing recently, and borrowed one-half 
of two — alleged — good dogs. They being owned by a 
joint stock company, one-half of the stock being held by 
Nitro. 
Dog number one showed faint symptoms of good points, 
but was too much handicapped hy an excess of adipose 
tissue to rate high in the field. Dog number two was a 
"had been," sadly degenerated. We left the train at a 
small village in east Tennessee, and went forth to make 
scarce the quail that we had heard were very plentiful in 
that bailiwick. 
A country boy of sturdy growth was found, who, for 
a compensation that was about equivalent to a week's 
reasonable wages, was willing to pilot us and show us the 
favorite haunt of the brown bird, which he assured us he 
well knew. We were out for fun, regardless of expense, 
and before he had time to annex the usual many condi- 
tions, or ask his fill of questions, my friend of action, and 
not words, had loaded him with our lunch and spare 
shells and started him off. 
If that hoy was not born tired, he certainly had de- 
veloped well early in life, for it required the effort of 
one, and at times both, of us to get him down from every 
fence crossed that had a flat rail on top suitable for a 
resting place. 
We hunted for some time without success, and with 
scarcely varj'ing positions. Nitro and I trudged along 
side by side; the fat dog ambled along in front of us just 
far enough ahead to prevent our stepping on him; the 
"had been" wildly ranging from a hundred yards to a 
half-mile ahead, and frequently out of sight ; and General 
Debility, as my irreverent friend had christened our boy, 
dragging along weil in the rear. 
Our fat canine finally fell over a rabbit, which was 
brought to bag by our combined efforts, not because we 
particularly craved the flesh of hare, but, as Nitro said, 
"because he will cure the lean and hungry look of our 
game bag, and aid in getting a little work out of General 
Debility." The rabbit evoked the nearest approach to 
an effort from the General that he had yet developed 
during our acquaintance; picking it up and holding it at 
arm's length, we heard a sigh, and looking at me, said: 
"Mister, he is aw^ful heavy." This being assertion and not 
•argument, I said nothing. 
Turning to my companion he added: "And he ain't 
wuth a durn to eat." This pathetic hid for sympathy was 
met by- Nitro v\dth the heartless query: "Well, who is 
eating him." Pitching it into the game bag on top of our 
lunch with unnecessary violence, he "took up the white 
man's burden" and fell in line. 
Soon thereafter the real business of the day began, and 
we put up, a fine covey of birds. Our fat dog found them 
in a patch of briars, and, after several honest efforts at 
the conventional thing, settled down on all four feet and 
pointed truly, if not with grace and ease. 
We each got in both barrels on the flush, and I killed 
three birds; at least, that was my friend's report, although 
I had shot at only two, and had a strong suspicion that 
one of the shots, at least, had beejx entirely out of line 
wkh the flight of the bird. 
Not feeling inclined to dispute his word, I pocketed 
the three birds and we moved on in the direction of the 
''eire the covey had settled. Here 
••d been" dog, that returned to 
rushed in with an air of 
to make up all lost time, 
itlt of sight and hearing 
remainder with the 
^th fired, and he 
piece ot 
we were ju 
investigate t». 
business, as tho. 
flushed two birds «. 
after them, leaving u.. 
assistance of the fat dofe. 
We first flushed d singlt, 
fell, so my companion averr*. 
A pair next offered, at rath*. ^e, only one of 
which we bagged, my bird afe. nree birds next 
broke cover, two of which stopped «. vur invitation, both 
falling to my unerring aim, according to my truthful com- 
panion, although I had found a 4ft. oak tree between me 
and the second bird I had tried to hold on. Either I was 
shooting a remarkable gun, or else there was something 
in my companion's reports that called for a court of 
inquiry. 
Two birds next flushed, one flying to the right and the 
other to the left, and after my companion had swung to 
the right hand bird, I killed the one on the left, and 
waited before retrieving it for my companion's report. 
"You got him," he cried, and walking out he picked up 
his bird and brought it to me. 
Not until I had assured him that I had not shot at his 
bird at all, and showed him my dead bird lying where I 
had thrown him, well off to the left, would he admit that 
he had killed a bird. 
Not finding any more of the birds in that cover, we sat 
down on a log to rest, and I proceeded to question my 
unselfish friend on his lack of success in the field; assur- 
ing him that I had seen his work at the trap, which I 
considered above the average. , 
"Well," said he, "this bird killed to-day is the third 
bird I have killed since the opening of last season, al- 
though I have been shooting birds for many years. 
"Last season, and the few times I have been out this 
year, I have hunted with two gentlemen, one prominent 
in the professional, and the other in the business world, 
and they have invariably killed every bird that was 
brought to bag." (There was no irony in his voice, it was 
cold steel.) 
"The other two birds I got on a hunt last season when 
I had promised a pair to a sick friend, getting one that 
they did not see fall, and the other by killing him behind 
me, Avhile they were shooting to the front, and holding 
my finger on the trigger and threatening to lift the tops 
of their heads if they offered to touch it when I went to 
pick it up. 
"They were fair enough on the divide of the game, and 
they were both like 'Brutus,' but they always fired when 
there was a flush, and they invariably killed everything 
that fell. 
"I have promised to hunt a day with them next week 
and have arranged a lot of shells for the trip that I firmly 
believe will cure them of their bad habit and make pleasant 
shooting companions of them. They will shoot the regula- 
tion loads of powder, but the shot space in their cartridges 
will be filled with felt wads, and after they have claimed 
all the birds killed, I propose to produce the affidavit of 
the man who loads to prove that only the i6-gauge shells 
(they both shoot 12s) had any shot in them. 
"It will be heroic treatment, and may cause temporary 
unpleasantness, but it will cure them, I honestly believe." 
Assuring him of my sympathy, and the hope that his 
scheme would work well, we resumed our hunt with the 
under.standing that he was to kill as many birds as any 
body else on our hunt. 
We swung round and started back in the general di- 
rection we had come, and found the appearance of the 
country very encouraging. 
But now our heretofore apathetic boy seemed to wake 
to hfe and take a real interest in the hunt. 
"Better keep out of there," he said, as we started to 
climb a fence, enclosing a promising looking bit of stub- 
ble. "That is ole man Grubbs and he don't allow no 
huntin.' 
"Where is his sign?" asked my companion. 
"Ain't got none up, but he will raise sand 'ef he catches 
ye." We concluded to risk the sandstorm and entered 
the field. Two nice coveys rewarded our temerity, out of 
which Nitro asknowledged seven birds to his gun. 
Another good stubble was soon reached, which General 
Debility tried to argue us out of hunting by assuring us 
that it wa.s "boggy and full of water holes." Here the 
"had been" truant rejoined us, and none too soon, for his 
highness, the dog of aldermanic proportions, was fairly 
worn out. 
A covey was. , found that flushed wild, and one was 
killed across a small stream by a long shot. 
The condemned dog acted well on the stand, and 
promptly rushed for the dead bird. 
We congratulated ourselves on his reformation, and 
waited for him to bring in the bird that we might en- 
courage him with kind words and caresses. 
He did not return promptly and my companion crossed 
over to investigate the cause of the delay. 
His arrival at the point where the dog was located was 
immediately followed by some rather strong language, 
the thud of a vigorous kick, and ki-yis ! of a pained and 
surprised canine. 
The dog resumed his business of seeking secluded 
spots, and as he disappeared over a distant hill still voic- 
ing his displeasure at the vigorous objection to his meth- 
ods, my companion returned bringing for my inspection 
the foot and wing of a quail connected by a ragged 
chewed frings of feathers which he reported as the only 
sign of the bird left when he reached the dog. 
This episode abated our enthusiasm sufficiently to ad- 
mit of our knocking off for lunch, and as 'we were con- 
venient to the abode of the General, we dismissed him 
to mmister to his- material necessities, while we enjoyed 
our mid-day meal by a convenient spring. 
Our faithful fat dog lay and snored all the time we 
were eating our lunch and my kind-hearted companion 
would not wake 'him up to eat, but gathered a nice lot of 
scraps and placed them on a clean piece of paper to 
feed him when he finally had his nap out. 
We were smoking and resting after lunch when a sound 
attracted our attention, and turning we were just in 
time to see the last -of the dinner that we had so carefully 
put aside -for' "oiir t faithful canine friend disappearing 
down the throat; of the worthless disgrace to the whole 
dog tribe, that had sneaked up in the rear and appropri- 
ated it. 
"Get out I You hifernai, base-born a,ggregation of per- 
ambulating sausage meat," yelled Nitro, snatching up 
his gun and crowding in shells with all haste. 
The dog understood enough of the order to know that 
his presence was not desired and Got! at a rate of speed 
that carried him over the top of a rise in the ground 
about i-i6in. ahead of the load of shot that my indignant 
companion sent after him. 
A native now joined us who proved a friend of 
Nitro's. "Had puirty good luck, men?" he queried. 
We reported, and suggested that our boy did not ap- 
pear well informed as to the bird covers. 
"Well now" — said he — "I don't want you to say noth- 
in" 'bout my tellin' you, but that boy knows every covey 
of birds within five miles of here, but he won't show 
them to everybody. 
"I just been up to the house an' heard him a kickin' 
because you fellers would go in the fields where the birds 
• was in spite of his tryin' to keep you out. 
"He says he has some regular hunters that always 
employs him an' pays him big prices, comin' to hunt here 
day after to-morrow, an' he don't want the coveys cut up 
an' scattered none. 
"Don't you tell him I told you, but I rec'on you will 
do jest about as well without him. 
"Well, so long; hope you will have luck;" and off he 
trudged, leaving us to wonder why it was that we had 
not realized the duplicity being practiced by the boy all 
morning. 
Without a word of comment ray companion walked 
over to where he had placed This gun after his remon- 
strance with the dog, loaded it, and proceeded to locate 
himself at a point commanding a view of the path by 
which the boy would return. 
There was too much business in his preparations, and 
watching my opportunity I slipped the gun away from 
behind him, where he had placed it within reach, and re- 
placed it with the shells removed, 
Down the path the General finally strolled, looking as 
pleased as Punch, and apparently ready to forget and for- 
give, as a well-fed man should. 
He walked up to Nitro. who was looking him straight 
between the eyes, and said: "Well now, if you feller^ 
want me to find you ony birds this afternoon ye better be 
gittin" a move on ye, 'stid of sitten 'round burnin' dav- 
light, don't ye think?" 
Tossing a coin at the boy, my friend produced his 
watch and quietly, but with a cold sincerity that was con- 
vincing, replied: 
"You take that money and get out just .as qiiicfcly as 
you can. 
"I will begin to shoot at any piece of you. big enough 
to draw a bead on that is in sight 30 seconds from this 
time. 
"If you are fond of yourself, and like to live, do your 
best— Now Git!" ^ 
Evidently believing that he had to do with a dangerous 
individual the boy snatched up the money and made off 
at a gait that would have utterly discouraged our running 
dog had he been there to see it. He was well out of sight 
with time to spare before the limit was up. 
The afternoon proved interesting and we added to our 
bag. 
The truant dog came back to us, and though in deep 
disgrace was tolerated until patience again ceased to be a 
virtue.' He raced us for every bird killed and generallv 
won. 
Finally he and Nitro engaged in a rough and tumble 
over a bird that the latter had killed ,and the former 
eaten. 
The combatants were hidden from view by a thicket, 
but the sounds of the battle were plainly audible. 
At first there were many aiid vigorous commands from 
the man, apparently unheeded by the dog; then thuds of 
a vigorously propelled boot landing on the dog's anatomy 
and a chorus of canine protests; the next act in the 
tragedy was a moving panorama of dog in swift retreat 
and determined man in pursuit 
The dog passed near by where I stood, scattering 
howls and feathers, and the man followed scattering ad- 
jectives, neither apparently aware of my presence. Then 
my thoroughly incensed friend, finding himself rapidly be- 
ing distanced, bethought himself of his weapon. 
Stopping short, he proceeded to deliver a broadside 
from both barrels of his gun at the dog, that caused that 
animal to give a vocal and gymnastic exhibition the like 
of which I have never seen equalled. 
When we resumed operations in the field there was a 
look of conscience approving duty performed on the face 
of the man that lasted out the day, but the dog did not 
come back. 
Our game pockets assayed 27 whole and 4 dessicated 
birds, when we an-ived at the station where w^e were to 
take the train for home and our faithful fat dog did not 
open his eyes or break a snore when we lifted him in 
and laid him on the floor of the baggaage car. 
Lewis Hopkins, 
Vermont Birds and Game. 
Sheldon, Vt., April 22. — Below I give you the dates 
of the arrival of several of our birds this season, as com- 
pared wdth the springs of 1897 and 1808. which shows 
how very backward our present spring has been: 
Robins 
Red-wing starling... 
Song sparrow,...,., 
Meadowlark 
Bluebird 
1899. 
. . . April 5 
.......April 11 
...... .April 12 
April 12 
. .April 15 
1898. 
March 10 
March 23 
March 18 
March 25 
March 17 
1897. 
March 21. 
April 3. 
April 1. 
March 28. 
April 8. 
Phebe bird .April 20 
The dates not filled, are those where we did not observe 
tlie birds until late in the season. ^ : 
Regarding the game prospects, deer are getting quite 
common, foxes the 'same. , Ruffed grouse appear to have 
wintered well. Mongolian pheasants have again without 
doubt winter-killed,' and so far not a single flock o.t wild 
geese have been se^n or heard. The ice is generally out 
of the streams, but not yet out of the, lakes, and a few 
snowdrifts still remaiji in the sheltered .ravines. . ' 
■ n-,:' - StANSTEAD.; 
