The pilot and transcript. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1840-1841, 1840-07-27
VOL. r....NO. 50.

Joe had scarcely uttered this, when he opened
| his eyes very wide and retraced as many OF the
words make five: the five, namely, that ans
nounced the flight of the flock.
| For as truly as you stand there, not one had
moved
'TThey don't bulge, by jingo! Well did ever
man see the like o. that! Hold low, Sam never
mind your printing. She won't go now. if YOU
flash away a pound OF powder. Pitch the old
buster into the mud, and stand by to pick up the
| BIRDS"
On reflection, think would confirm and re-
assert my position that to balk a sportsman of
good shot is the most cndurable, intoerable, out
rageous, and might say dannable provoeation
that be sustained with, or without resent
ment.
But would not thereby imply that mans
gun can be spoken of very slightingly, with i'm
punity Probably this offence may be ranked as
number two in the scale of possible provoca-
tions.
But ne lower than number two
Not an inch.
Indeed no man understood this better than
Joe. But when one reaches certain pitch of
excitement, one is not apt to weigh words.
1t was, however, fortunate for Joe that, at
this particular juncture, Sam had both his head
and hands full of his own affairs.
And instead of the reply EFusual in such cases."
he returned sundIy oaths and various kindred
explosives, not, perhaps, in good taste, but per-
fectly in character.
He then overhauled his frelock, and priIned
her anew; taking care to ''joggle down and
| prick inn many grains OF powder as he could
! urge into the touch-hole.
| Joe, meanwhile, though regarding Sans pre-
parations with the utmost contempt, wasted no
more of words or thoughts on his movements;
but proceeded with great deliberation to cover
the spot where the game sat thickest; and haV-
ing done so, he shut his eyes and let drive.
Sam was not idle
He had primed and brought up his piece with
such rapidly that, notwithstanding it hung fire
a little, the two explosions were simultaneous.
1t as soon obvious that both guns had been
levelled at the same group, and three OF the OBJ
jects rolled over and over; but all the rest sat
stall.
| Here was decided waste of ammHnition
thing, as may say, almost certain to occur when
there is want ofcordial understanding between
! two sportsmen as to the time and place at which
! each shall shoot.
! For, without such understanding, what is
more natural than that each should select for
himself the best spot for shot; and that the
spot selected by each should be the same, Identi-
cal, one and indivisible.
As to the waste of ammunition
When you consider that this class of shooters
pour out their powder into their hands, wad with
tow, and load ten fingers, why, of course
But perhaps this is unimportant.
Joe and Sam, as the attentive reader Will per-
ceive, had already experienced sorae annoyance,
but their troubles were only begun.
! For, to say nothing of the difficulty of divi-
! ding equally three birds between two sportsmen,
| each man was vet unaware that the other had
fired-owing to the fact that both fred sImulta-
neously, and the report was as but one gun
1t was but natural, therefore, tkat each man
should make preparation to pocket al the game
/ And as this was misunderstanding very diff
ficult to be explained on the instant, it is highly
probable that some consequences, serious atleast,
/ if not dangerous, might have
As good luck would have it, however, two in-
cidents Of 1 may so call them) stayed proceed
] inss in the premises
| l. The moment that the smoke cleared away,
it was apparent that, saving and excepting the
unfortunate three that rolled over and over, the
whole flock, undisturbed By the joint thunder Of
Sam and Joe, were quietly floating on the ripping
tide, as if nothing had happened!
And,
| II. The apparition, or the propria persona, of
an old hunter, famous in those parts, bolted up
right from behind hassock of tall sedge, ez-
claiming, as he rose,
sYou eternal morphoditc varnint, what for,
by thunder, do you shoot my stools"
seStoolsw echoed Sam, in great dismay.
e.Stoolsm re-echocd Joe, with a sort Of 81
thought SOP cons siousness tingling through his
apprehension.
jackassesp' replied the old hunter, with equal in
dignation and disdain ESQ tramp and be off; or,
by heaven, III make hoie IN your Jaoise'~'
| Bulge, tell ye! and the next time you go a
shooting, put on leather spectacles, and try II you
can't tell stool-duck from real duck
CURIOUS FAcT-A gentleman, firm believer
in Mr. Espy's theory by the way, said on Satur-
day, that he did wish the Britannia would come,
as the drought was insuffarable, and he had no
doubt that the cannonading in honor of her arri-
val would produce rain. The Britannia arrived
on Saturday evening, guupowder was burned IN
immense quantities, and it rained merrily yester-
| day afternoon .-BoSton Journal.
The conclusion must have been tremendous; as
is evidenced by its causing heavy rain here, al
distance of 200 miles The mere anticipation
of it produced considerable rain here on Satur
day.-.M Z. Journal Of Commerce.
So it did here, in very profuse showers.
philadelphia Ledger.
So ii did here, in torrents.