The Arkansaw traveler., 1884-06-28
STORY OF A PARTRIDGE.
BY ALPnoNsE pAupEr.


 You know that cartridges go in covies and build their nests together in the hol- low of 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, es- tablished on plain at the edge of large wood, with good piekings and fine covers on both sides. Thus, since first knew how to run, we'll ieathered, well fed, l found my life happy one. Neverthe- less, one thing disturbed me little. It was this famous opening of the hunting season, of which our mothers began to talk softly among themselves. One old member of our company always sad to me at such times:
 "Have no fear, Rouge,, they call me Rouget on account of my peak and claws, the color of service berries-"haye no fear, Rouget, will take you with me on the opening day. and am sure that noth- ing will happen to you"
 This IS an old cock, very cunning and still active, although ne already has a horseshoe marked on his breast. and white feathers here and there. While still young he received shot in his wing, and as that made him little heavy he looks twice before flying, takes his time and always comes safely through. He often took me with him as far as the en- trance to the woods. There stands cu- rious little house nestled among the chestnut trees, slleat as an empty kennel and always closed.
 Look carefully a, this house, little one" the old fellow said to me when you sec smoke rising from tte roof and the door and the shutters open, things will be going badly for us"
 And had confidence in him, know ing we'll that this was not his first season.
 In fact, the next morning al break of day, l heard some one calling softly in the furrow !" Rouget, Rouget"
 It was the old cock. His eyes were wonderful to behold.
 "Come quickly he said, "and do as do."
 followed him, half asleep, running between the clods of earth without flying, almost without jumping, like mouse We went toward the wood, and saw in passing that smoke came from the chim- ney of the little house, the windows were open to the day, and before the wide open door were huntsmen, ready equipped, surrounded by leaping dogs. As we passed one of the hun,smen cried
 Let us try the field this morning: we will go to the woods after breakfast
 Then understood why my old com panion took us first to the forest. New ertheless, my heart beat. above all, when l thought of our poor friends.
 Suddenly, jus, as we reached the edge of the wood, VIC saw the dogs running Tn our direction.
 Lie down, lie down. said the old fel- low, crouehing.
 At the same time ten paces from us, frightened quail opened wide his wings and his beak, and flew up with cry of terror. heard fearful noise, and we were enveloped by strange-smelling dust, all white and warm, although the sun had scarcely risen. was so fright ened that could run no further. Luckily, we had entered the wood. My comrade squatted behind little oak, l placed myself near him, and we remained hidden there, looking out between the leaves.
 In the fields there was terrible noise of guns. At each repor, shut my eyes, stunned; then. when de. cided to open them, saw the plain, big and bare, and dogs running, searching in the blades of grass. in the little bundles of grain, turning on their tracks like mad creatures. Behind them the huntsmen swore, shouted; the guns shone in the sun. At one moment, in a little cloud of smoke, thought saw, although there was no tree near, something fly like fall ing leaves. But the old cock told me 1t was feathers ; and, in fact, a hundred Paoes In front of us a superb gray par tridge fell in the furrow, tuning up his bloody head.
 When the sun became very hot, very high, the shooting suddenly stopped. house, where could be heard the crack ling of big hre ofvine branches. They chatted together, gun on shoulder, and discussed the shots, while their dogs came behind them, tired, with lolling tongues.
 "They are going :o breakfast" said my companion, le, us do like them
 And we entered field of buckwheat. which IS near the wood-a great big white and black field. in flower and in grain, with a smell of almonds. Hand- some pheasants with golden-orown plu- mage 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 tor news, and if any of their number had fallen. During this time the breakfast of the huntsmen. at first quiet, became more and more noisy: we heard the glasses clink and the corks of the bottles fly. My guide con- sidered it time to return to shelter. .
 At that hour the woods seemed asleep. The little pools, where the deer came to drink, were troubled by no tapping tongue not the muzzle of rabbit in the wild thyme of the warren. But a mys- terious trembling was to be felt, as if each blade of grass sheltered a menaced life. These wild creatures of the forest have 90 many hiding places-the burrows. she thiekets, the wood-piles, the brambles,