New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-12-04
THE DOCTORS HUNTING.

mot grew out of the professors self-asse-tive
boastfulness as to his own skill in that direc-
don. The professor was an old time hunter a
Keen lover CT sport, exceptionally good
shot and an enthusiast Of the first water. The
eoctor was nothing Of the sort He was an in
cinercnt shot and had never hunted much.
One day the professor had occasion to call on
the doctor, and as he was leaving he said,
brskly:
This Is fine weather for bird -hunting. ! hear
that quail thick. I must go out with my
dogs. Ever do any hunting, doctor?'
The doctor said that ne wasn't much of a
hunter, but that he enjoyed the sport and felt
as If he would like to have a day out in the
fields and the woods with a good dog and gum
This made the professors eyes dance. lie said,
heartily: Just the thing l have got two Of
the best dogs In all this country, and I Will
take you out with me. What do you gay 10 to-
morrow
After some discussion they agreed To 30 the
following day. The professor got out his gun
and cleaned it UP, and the doctor did likewise
Bright and early the next morning the professor
appeared with his dogs and his gun. The doc
tor was waiting and they got into a carriage
and drove swiftly back into the country about
twelve miles, where the birds were reported to
be thickest- Arriving there, the professor
jumped out, stretched his legs, declared it was
ideal day for sport, whstled to his dogs and
started off The doctor followed, and soon they
were ramping across the fields with the dogs
running easily before them In long circuits.
There had been light furry of snow the
night before, and the ground was just covered
The air bracing and the sunshine brilliant
Everything was lovely, but no birds were to be
found After more than an hours tramp, both
were getting discouraged. when suddenly the
dog which was nearest to the doctor stopped,
became rigid and pointed directly ahead. The
doctor raised his shotgun and saw bird
nesting in a ragweed patch. The bird heard
him just then, but before It had time to futter
q wing he let drive and blew it all to pieces.
The professor, who had been watching the per-
Torrance, bounding across the field,
emitting strange oaths and cries. He
plainly angry clear through, and in language
exceptionally forcibe he turned loose on the
doctor for his action. He said that shooting
bird on the ground was a crime that surpassed
highway robbery, wholesale murder, or any
crime in the calendar; that ii the act Of
pothunter, unsportsmanke, and so on. He
insisted that the birds should be shot on the
wing or not at all. and he deeply impressed the
doctor with his violent denuncations. The
matter adjusted. they pushed on. and another
hour was spent IN ruilleSS search men lhc uOC-
tor saw a rabbit crouched behind BUSH and
instinct prevailed over the advice he had re-
ceiyed, and he knocked the rabbit over before
had time to move. This brought down on his
head another torrent Of abuse from the same
source and for the same reason but he said
nothing He was bird and rabbit ahead Of
the professor.
The hunt continued, but nothing else was
found and the irritability OF the men increased.
Finally they came to place where the road
forked The doctor wanted TO go one way and
the professor the other Neither was in a good
humor. and 1t was finally decided to separate.
80 each took a dog and started off. The doc
tor had gone about quarter of mile when
his dog came to a beautiful point directly upon
the end of a huge log. The doctor walked
around cautiously and peehed in. He saw about
n dozen birds nestled beneath the log, sheltered
from the wind and the snow. The sight was too
much for him and he stepped back and let go
With both barrels Then he watched, and just
two birds few out
The doctor ran up, and by actual count he
found nine birds that he had killed with his
two barrels. He was now In a deep quandary.
He had shot the birds on the ground, and he
knew the professors anger would be terrible
There was no hope for it. 1t was wasting good
ammunition but he walked twenty yards and
6red off his gun twice. Then he waited a few
moments and walked in another direction and
shot twice again. This he repeated until he had
Aired dozen shots. Then he picked up his
birds placed them In the bag, and tramped off
70 meet the professor at the appointed place
When he came up the professor said. sneer-
,C7,