Eastern times., 1855-11-15

careless, and in all such cases the pigeons fly
off with the loss of few feathers. The gun
is reloaded, and our amateur hunter, seeing
the thick flock upon another tree, again en-
deavors to approach them, but with like sue
cess.
ln our party we bad eight guns, exclusive
OF the small fowling-pieces, (two of these
with which brace of our heroines were
armed, and which truth compels me to confess,
were less dangerous to the pigeons than to
ourselves. Some of our guns were double
barrelled shot-guns, others were rifles. You
will wonder at rifles being used in such a
sport, yet it is fact that the gentlemen who
carried rifles managed to do more execution
than those who were armed with other species
This arose from the circumstance that they
were contented 10 aim at single birds, and,
being good shots, they were almost sure to
bring them down. The woods were filled
with Struggling pigeons. Old birds were al
ways within rifle range; And thus, instead of
wasting their time in endeavoring to approach
the great flocks, our rifemen did nothing but
load and fire. In this way they soon counted
their game by the dozens.
Early in the evening, the pigeons, having
filled their crops with the mast, disappeared.
They flew off 10 some distant roost. This, of
course concluded our sport for the day. We
got together and counted our numbers. We
had GAO birds. We returned home full of
hope; we felt certain that we had won for
that day. Our antagonist had arrived before
us. They showed us 726 dead pigeons. We
were beaten.
( really cannot explain the chagrin which
this defeat occasioned to most of our party
They are Inundated in the eyes of the ladies',
whose company they were to lose on the NOR
row. To some there was extreme bitterness
in the idea =; for, as have already stated, at
tachments had spruug up, and jealous thoughts
were naturally their concomitants. 1t was
quite tantalizing, as we parted next morning,
to see the galaxy of lovely women ride off with
our antagonists, while we sought the woods in
the opposite direction, dispirited and in silence.
We went, however, determined to do our
best, and win the ladies for the morrow. A
council was held, and each impaired his ad-
vice and encouragement and then we all set
to work with shot-g and rifle.
On this day an incident occurred that aided
our count materially. The wilder pigeons
while feeding, sometimes cover the ground SO
thickly that they crowd upon each other
They all advance in the same direction, those
behind continually rising up and fuatering to
the front, so that the surface presents a series
of undulations like sea waves. Frequently the
of room upon the ground, and a confused mass
of winged creatures is seen rolling through the
woods. AT such times, if the sportsmen can
only head the flock, he is sure of good shot,
Almost every bullet tells, and dozens may be
brought down at single discharge,
In my progress through the woods, had got
separated from nv companions, when observed
an immense flock approaching me, after the
manner have described. | saw from their
plumage that they were young birds, and there
fore not easily TO be alarmed. | drew my
horse, Q was mounted) behind a tree, and
awaited their approach. This did more from
curiosity than any, other motive, as, unfortu-
nately, carried a rifle, and could only have
killed one or two at best. The crowd came
'swirllng' forward, and when they were within
some ten or fifteen PAGES distant, fired into
their midst To my surprise, the flock did not
take flight, but continued to advance as before,
until they were almost among the horses feet
| could stand it no longer. / drove the spurs
deeply, and galloped into their midst, striking
right and left as they futtered up around me.
Of course they were soon off; but of those that
had been trodden upon by my horse, and others
l had knocked d6>Sn, counted no less than
twenty-seven! Proud of my exploit, | gath
cred the birds into my bag, and rode in
search of my companions.
Oar party on this day numbered over 800
head killed but, 10 our surprise and chagrin,
our antagonists had beaten us by more Than a
hundred.
The gentlemen of 'ours' were wretched.
The bellies were monopolized by our antago-
nists; we were secuted every privilege. 1t
was not 10 be endured something must be
done. What was 10 be done! counseled we.
If fair means will not answer, we must try the
opposite. 1t was evident that our antagonists
were better shots than we.
The Colonel, too, was one of them, and he
was sure to kill every time he pulled trigger.
The odds were against US ; some plan must be
devised some ruse must be adopted, and the
idea of one haG been passing through my mind
through the whole ofthat day. 1t was this:-
| had noticed, that although the pigeons would
not allow the s2ortmen 10 come within range of
fowlng-piece, yet at distance of little over
hundred yards, they neither fear man nor
beast At that distance they sit unconcerned,
thousands Of them upon single tree. Ii struck
me that a gun large enough to throw shot
among them, would be certain of killing humid
reds at each discharge ; but where was such a
gun to be ha6. As reflected thus, mountain
howitzers' came into my mind. remembered
the small mountain howitzers we had made use