Morning journal and courier., 1884-05-23
The Emotions of a Red Partridge
Narrated py E1fmself.

From he French of Alphonse Daudet.l
 You know that partridges go in covies and build their nests together in the hollow ot the furrows, so that they can rise at the least alarm, scattered in flight like grain from the hand of the sower. Our own company Is numerous and gay. established on plain at the edge of large wood, with good pickings and fine covers on both sides. Thus, since l first knew how to run, well feathered, well fed, found my life happy one. Never theless one thing disturbed me little. It was this famous opening of the hunting sea- son of which our mothers began to talk soft ly among themselves. One old member of our company always said to me at such times
 "Have no fear, Rougst''-they call me Rouget on account of my beck and claws, tht color of service berries-''Have no fear, Rouget, I will take you with me on the open ing day, and I am sure that nothing will hap pen to you"
 This is an old cock, very cunning and still active, although he already has horseshoe marked on his breast. and white feathers here and there. While still young he re- ceived shot in his wing, and as that made him little heavy he looks twice before fly ing, takes his time, and always comes safely through He often took me with him as far as the entrance to the woods. There stands 8 curious little house nestled among the chestnut trees, silent as an empty kennel and always closed.
 Look carefully at this house. little one, " the old fellow said to me; "when you see smoke rising from the roof and the door and the shutters open, things will be going badly for us' ''
 And had confidence in him, knowing we'll that this was not his first season.
 In fact the next morning at break of day heard some one calling softly in the fur row:
 "Rouget, Rouget"
 It was the old cock. His eyes, were won- derful to behold.
 "Oome unickIy,s' he said, ssand do as de'
 I followed hiu, half asleep, running be- tween the cIods of earth without flying, al- most without jumping, like mouse. We went toward the wood, and saw in passing that smoke came from the chimney of the little house, the windows were open to the sky, and before the wide open doors were huntsmen, ready equipped, surrounded by leaping dogs, As VIC passed one of the kuntsmen cried
 ''Let us try the field this morning; we will go to the woods after breakfast
 Then I understood why my old companion took us first to the forest Nevertheless, my heart beat, above all, when I thought of cur poor friends.
 Suddenly, jast as we reached the edge of the wood, we saw the dogs running in our direction.
 Lie down, lie down." said tho old fellow, crouching.
 At the same time, ten paces from us, 8 frightened quail opened wide his wings and his beak, and flew up with a cry of terror. 1 heard fearful noise and we were enveloped by strange-smeIling dust, all white and warm, although the sun had scarcely risen. I was 50 frightened that could run no fur ther. Luckily we had entered the wood. My comrade squatted behind B little oak, I placed myself near him, and we remained hidden there looking out between the leaves.
 In the fields there was a terrible noise of guns. At each report I shut my eyes, con- pletely stunned; then, when I decided to open them, saw the plain, big and bare, the dogs running, searching in the blades of grass, in the little bundles of grain, turning on their tracks like mad creatursd Behind them the huntsmen swore, shoute; the guns shone in the sun. At one me- ment, in little cloud of smoke, thought I saw, although tkere WAS no tree near something fly like falling leaves. But the old cock told me that it was feathers and in fact hundred paces in front of us 8 superb gray partridge fell in the furrow, turning up his bloody head.
 When the became very hot, very high, the shooting suddenly stopped. The huntsmen returned toward the little house. where could be heard the cracking of a gether, gun on shoulder, and discussed the shots, while their dogs came behind them, tired, with lolling tongues.
 "They are going to breakfast" said my compaaion, ''Iet us do like them.''
 And we entered 8 field of buckwheaE which is near the wood-a big white and black field, in flower and in grain, with nf olr de with golden brown plunfage were feeding there also, lowering their red crests for fear of being seen. An they were less naughty than usual. While eating they asked us for news, and if any of their number had fallen. During this time the breakfast of the hunts noisy; we heard the glasses clink and the eorks of the bottles fly. My guide consid- cred it time to return to shelter.
 At that hour the woods seemed asleep. The little pools, where the deer come to drink, were troubled by no tapping tongue not the muzzle of rabbit in the wild thyme of the warren but 8 mysterious trembling was to be felt, as if each blade of grass shell tered menaced life. These wild creatures of the forest have so many hiding places the burrows the thickets, the wood piles, the brambles and the ditches-those little wood ditches which retain the water so long after it has rained. confess that I would have l1h0u tO D6 hb Luo pOtLOu or one or these l holes, but my companion preferred to re- main in the open, to have room, to see about | him, and to feel the free air before him. It l was well for us that he did so, for the hunts- | men came into the woods
 Oh! that first shot in the forest-that shot | which tore holes in the leaves like an April | hail, and scored the bark-never shall for | get it. rabbit made of across the road, | tearing up tufts of grass with his extended | claws. A squirrel ran down 8 chestnut tree, | knocking of the green burrs. There were | two or three heavy flights of big pheasants | and tumult among the branches and the | dry leaves at the wind of this shot. which | agitated, awakened, frightened everything | that lived in the wood. The field mice ran | to the bottom of their holes. A horn beetle | came out of a crack ia the tree against which l we were squasting, and rolled his big, stupid | eyes, fixed with terror. And then blue dra- 1 gon-fies, drones, butterflies, poor insects | flying wildly from all sides, even to little | beetle with scarlet wings, who placed himself | close to my beak; but was too frightened I myself to take advantage of his fear.
 The old cock remained calm. Very atten- I tive to the barking and to the sound of the l guns, when they approached, he made me a | -igu, and we went little further, beyond the reach of the dogs and well hidden by the foliage. Nevertheless thought at one time that we were lost. The path which we had | to cross was guarded at each end by sports man in ambush. On one side was big jolly fellow with black whiskers, who made a whole arsenal jingle at each movement, hunting knife, cartridge box, powder flask, | without counting high gaiters buckled to the