The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1882-08-03
a Shot Not Shot.
By JEROME BURNETT.

Many years ago the undersigned had
millions of sport hunting and fishing
round about the town of Terre Haute,
Indiana, and while much could be writ
ten and told in reference to game killed
and fish caught, much, also might be
said of times when game was not killed
and fish were not induced to take hold.
am inclined to think there is studious
effort on the part of sportsmen who
write and talk (the few who are so dis
poseO to mention only the brighter side
OF their experiences, and to ignore the
incidents and trials that exasperated
their souls.
Talk about songs that are never sung,
of kisses that are never kissed, of inn
n1ense sums of money that might have
been made-they are as nothing COM
pared to the big fish we have hooked
and lost, and inopportune occurrences
that have kept us from bagging magni-
ficent game.
You probably know of the great de-
preston of spirits that has followed the
discovery that your powder-hask was
lost-in the muzzle-loading days-when
pigeons were coming over in myriads;
you know how thoughts of immeasur-
able disappointment arise with the view
of a man on horseback between you
and a flock of wild geese to which you
have. been groping your way on hands
and knees; you probably know how
soon life becomes a burden by seeing in
tervening footprints in the virgin snow
when you have been tracking deer for
hours, and near by hear the report of
gun; you possibly know the desolation
of spirit that comes, after going ten
miles to favorite fishing ground, to
find that some rural roosters" have
just hauled hundred yards seine, and
raked out every living thing. These
are the toothaches of memory; but,
thank the Lord, they are only here and
there. The good times are the bright
est, and grow brighter, while the mis-
adventures and disappointments serve
their purpose, perhaps to point moral
and adorn tale, to teach US to be
more careful, more observing, more ex-
pert.
| Speaking of turkeys, I was coming
! down to town from q friends farm on
Otter Creek, where. had spent several
| days. hunting squirrels, and having a
! grand old time, for boy with new
| gum 1t was early morning, and l was
| footing it on the highway, approaching
| what was known AS Marke's MILL
| The owner of the mill had put q
fence around u dozen acres of land
near the creek, where he was feed
ing hogs for the Terre Haute mark
Il ct. T. Nearing the enclosure, / saw
six turkeys running along by the side of
/ the fence, about sixty yards ahead of
me, ducking their heads occasionally,
| picking up corn, and trying to find an
opening to get into the field. 1 had
never Killed a wild turkey; in fact, had
seen but few alive. .,-. t.-....-..s.....
/ "What splendid shot," Isaid to N.Y.
self, ''if they were only Wild" Raising
/ my rifle, [ took aim. and further com
| mented on the beautiful shot / could
make. thinking of the likelihood of
bringing down two at one fire, andwhat
jolly thing it would be to take home a
nice fat wild turkey. Z 't5' r,.f.' lr-s'.,. -4
They ran along in the position 1 first
saw them two or three hundred yards,
showing] some distress at my near ap-
| proach, as some tame turkeys are wont
| to do, but evidently eager to get into the
corn. Three times 1 raised myrtle and
took good aim, wishing Icould have
such shot at wild turkeys, and regret
ting that had not been able to find any
the two or three days before.
Finally the "gangn crossed the road
within fifty yards Of me, and disappear
ed in strip of dense woods up the
creek. Before I reached the mill q man
came up to me and asked, with great
| seriousness: - ..-..l. a a..-
s'Why what's the matter with your
gunP''
held up my pet rifle with some show
of pride and answered, Nothing"
-ius'Why, er-is she loadedP" - t.s
e ,''Yes," I replied, a little piqued at the
mans peculiar manner.
20! you're not after gamer' the man
continued.
Eyes, have been, but on the way
down to town dom expect to see much,
prairie chicken or two, perhaps, below
here. killed lot of squirrels yester-
day. s-s. % E.-ts geit,-.-
Don't care much about big gamep'
yes sir" said, emphasizing the
latter word.
Just then two men crossed the road
back where had seen the turkeys, both
armed and intent on business.
/ ..'Reckon you haven't hunted round
here much-haven't practised much on
turkeys and thingsP" "s j. .sss
| '.Noi squirrels have been my best
holt" ...--.
''Well, that's curious; well, why
didn't you give 'em twist, anyhow"
"Say, mister" / almost gasped, as
heard a crack of rifle, ''were those wild
turkeys?" 4.q-...s-
''In course they was, and busters, too.
Bill Gatrelrs got one of EN- now, reck-
onr' y 80
1t was no use to talk further; it was
too late to repair my loss, and trudged
on home with regret that twenty-five
years have softened but little.-Foyesf
| and Stream. @ st