Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1873-11-21

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gun and sailed forth for birds, even
in presence of the largest varieties of
game, letting the bison and rifle wait
for another day.
On this occasion I had observed a
small flock of pintalls. (Amas acuta)
alight in the stream about five hundred
yards in our advance, with that quick
swoop SO peculiar to the variety. I al
ways kept my ordnance in wagon
where itcould be handled in a moment,
so, stopping the team, | took the light
muzzle-loader aforementioned, and lost
not moment in putting in my three
and half drachms of powder and 1oz.
of No. 4 shot, which, with Ely's pink
edged wads, completed the charge.
My setter, old Fan, was asleep in the
same conveyance, but awoke directly
at the sound of the clicking gun-locks,
and was ready for action. Keeping
behind low willow fringe skirting
the bank, was enabled to maintain an
erect posture until within one hundred
yards, and then dropping, commenced
to crawl. Reader, if you are sports
man, you will understand the manner
of procedure, together with the min
gled pleasure and anxiety which one
feels while stealing upon a flock of
wild fowl. There was little or no
cover, and after going some fifty yards
was obliged literally to worm myself
along, pushing my gun ahead. Close
behind me came the setter s'Teutre a
terv,' but showing by her every move
ment how keenly she enjoyed the sport,
Some distance further, and I found it
impossible to proceed, for depression
in the ground showed the brown head
of the leading drake, as he stood re-
lieved from the flock, which were hud-
died under the bank in an eddy form
ed by the stream. Knowing [ could
get no closer, I quickly gathered my
self and cooked my gun, fearing that
they might spring at any moment. I
was none too soon, for the drake hav-
! ing sighted me, sprung from the water,
and the flock following, made the air
4
I covered the leader, and dropped him
at about fifty yards, and still lying,
gave my left barrel to the devoted
flock, knocking three 'clean out Of
time'' and wounding fourth, which
''towered'' moment and then went
down with a loud splash on the far
side of the stream.
At the word, Fan darting forward,
commenced retreating at once, and to
such good purpose that soon three out
of the five were laid at my feet. The
others gave more trouble-one in par
ticular, which was wing-tipped, duck
ed and skulked, SO as to defy the ut
most exertions of the dog. Finally
she neared him, and when he went un-
der she followed suit, and emerged
with the bird in her mouth, the water
dripping from her silky ears and coat,
as gaining the banks she trotted up to
me with the greatest satisfaction at
having performed her part SO well, re-
ceiving in return the words Of praise
she loved to hear. Upon returning to
the train the hunters professed them
selves much pleased with this palata-
able addition to our store of supplies,
as we'll as the manner in which | killed
the birds flying, which to them (never
having handled a. shot-gun) seemed
quite remarkable.
After this scarcely day passed with
out my killing ducks of some kind,
which were invariably. dressed and
cooked in a portable Dutch oven,
which we had with us. Mallard and
pintail, with a few teal, green and blue
winged, were the principal varieties
we encountered, and which, being far
removed from the sea, were invariably
fine favored,
Upon the most elevated hill-tops we
noticed, from time to time, pile of
stones, with one or two bison skulls,
or pole and flag surmounting it
These were the Indian signal-stations
or look-outs, from which any tribe
happening to be in the vicinity gave
warning of the advance of an enemy
or when a herd was in view. A war
rior, usually one noted for his SHARP
vision, occupies one of these stations
. and there sits, his keen eye taking in
each movement in the Plain below
: Should heard of bison suddenly ap
pear, he stands up, and taking off hii
blanket, waves it to thevillage beneath
communicating to them the location
: of the herd, their number, and wheth
er migrating or feeding. In moment