The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-10-15
KING OF THE FOREST
dDAY WITH THE RUFFED GROUSE
or THE PENNSYLTANIA NILS.
4 Wise Old Fellow Who Led Two Men n
Merry Chase for Half Day-His Cum
ming Tricks and Final Downfall.
Conyrieht for The Times. 1879.


We are enjoying our first outing Of the
pheasant season in one Of the counties OF
Western Pennsylvania. 1t was a typical
October day-all that a sportsman could
wish. We had finished the first half OF
tae day. had bagged a brace of young
birds apiece, and now were finishing our
lunch and hlling our pipes. Beside us
with an eye to the crumbs lay a noble old
English setter. hero Of dozen seasons in
The field. A beautiful young animal
t.ampcred about embracing every oppor-
tmity 20 get a Whit Of the dead birds.
Both dogs had done good work in the
morning but the birds were youngsters.
ana had given us little sport.
They are too much like prairie chick
ms grLmbled Dick. Il want 10 find
some old fellow who knows what the gun
and dog mean-One that has had his tail
ipinkled with shot often enough TO want
10 keep out Of the way"
Never mind" said /, there's good ter
uloy ahead OF us. You may get too
much OF Il before evening"
Never he replied, as we gathered up
i.fls and guns and started TO follow the
kyery thread that began in the spring at
Which we had our lunch and led down
l-,o deep and wooded ravine. The sun
usat Was almost cut off by the golden
Foliage of Autumn overhead. Here and
Were were clumps OF evergreen and up
lle hillside we could see the cinging vines
tie Wild grape the food the pheasants
lAe BEST Fallen trees made rustic brid-
- over the little stream, and the splash
.F .|a.H
49,, me twitted comments OF the song
'@ We're an there was between us and
solitude
A., PAD not started the dogs out yet,
"ry we're sauntering along on the
-, % moss when a low. mufiled sound
,.l Our ears. An instant after the
ana was repeated then it came again
f5o-,'-'Ala the intermlssion becoming
AIM. .l shorter until the sounds rolled
We '' one ana then died away
Wars4 'nsri looks OF anticipation and
uasir ''l the mutiled sounds began
then a.. '"' heavy boom, then another,
ne c,.f. 'f ana another, so slowly that
comic count them easily at first, then
until -oie rapidly and more rapidly,
lo,g ~ iost the separate sounds in the
ne,,l'DN on the forest. The sound most
co.. milling this drumming OF the
drum "rrs"a'nt comes from the base
SIM ~, n you could get drummer TO
ons s..-s O's drum, beginning with about
ere,s e.oAe every second and gradually in
q, .,s The beats until his stick few SO
tlo8 , , you could scarcely see it's mo-
49, would pretty nearly have the
',.asant's drumming INV
ufos S , tell us that the big bird gets
,sy - ~, a iog and makes the noise by strik-
ne ns. sfons wings against his sides
I, y. nateFalisis can have their way abou,
eo al We were able 10 find OUT. Per
10 Gu ihoian can move quietly enough
MT oa',h pheasant in the act OF drum.
M ,us, out an impatient sportsman nsvar
80 piia Is on the alert when he drums
.., ~ or al the least unusual sound
In," said. '0ufe looking
1oeen't her ''sh noise 70 be.
"A - paign was soon planned. climb
go 70 ,he top OF the hillside. taking IN.
s' oog. Fannie With me. ny com.