Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1899-07-10

| U0dI0fS were S0uI drOuuu 10 LU0 UOL-
tom end, and the guns (of which
there we're six) were placed two in
field on each side of the covert, and
two in a ride.
Matters started badly for us, as just
when Hickson was taking up his po
sition, two old cocks started up in
front of him and went whirring off,
giving him an easy stern shot at one,
but a nasty twisting one through the
branches at the other AS expected,
he killed both neatly, and was thus
already two birds to the good.
Nothing came our way, until at last
just as we were getting up to the
guns in the ride, we heard Cock to
the lift" and a low-ying pheasant
came out between Maitland and myself
at about the height of our shoulders.
He missed it clean with both barrels,
and I managed to wipe his eye with a
long shot.
We now got on to where the spin
ney ended, almost in a point, and I
took up my position with Hickson in
one field. Maitland was with Spenser,
| just where the covert ended and
where the beaters were eventually to
emerge.
Here, again, fortune seemed to be
against my man, as almost immedi-
ately eight hens went sailing over
Maitland's shoulder one after the
other.
But compensation was in store, for a
moment afterward Hickson missed an
easy cock which came almost over
him, and knew that the missing of
an easy shot was always a bitter pill
for him and apt to put him off his
true form. Maitland killed neat
left and right, and my spirits went up
once more.
Cocks were not over-plentiful and
the rest that were added to the bag
did not fall to either rivals gun. Still,
when we left to take our places be-
hind a convenient hedge for the first
small drive of cartridges matters had
been equalized and many were the
chatting assertions made to Hickson
that he had caught tartar this time.
At the driven cartridges Maitland
proved himself a first-class shot, while
Hickson shot even better than usual.
The whole interest of the day centered
in the performances of these two. and
| two men never shot better.
The excitement at lunch time, when
it was found that Hickson was just
one bird to the good-and that was
lucky one that had fallen and been
found by a dog-was intense, and I
saw Ethel's eye rest with loving ap-
proval on her lovers face.
AS soon as lunch was over we made
move to a little hedgerow, which
held cock for Maitland and nothing
for his rival. So, when we came to
the best partridge drive, matters were
exactly equal between them.
Our positions for this drive were be-
hind a small thin stretch of spinny,
over which the birds came well and
straight We waited about ten min
utes in silence, and after the long
drawn-out suspense the shouts Of
Mark" Coming to the right etc.,
began to rise on the still air.
Hickson was on the right, Maitland
in the center Amidst a babel of
almost simultaneously, spread from
the middle to the right.
Hickson got his left and right as
they came over him, but missed a
third shot as they went away, and
small blame to him.
But my joy was great to see Malt
land bring three birds down to almost
precisely similar shots Yet once
again the cup was dashed from my
lips, as Hickson brought off wonder
full shot at single bird, which came
twisting like snipe we'll away on
his right. After this, however, he
seemed without any reason to go to
pieces.
Maitland steadily increased his
lead, shooting well and safely, until
at the end of a most enjoyable day he
was we'll in front of his rival.
Soon, however, any feelings of COM
passion which Hickson's defeat may
have aroused, in us were dispelled by
his abominable rudeness. The man
could not keep his temper, and CURLY
snubbed Maitland, when he made some
conciliatory remark about the luck OF
the day being to the worst performer,
and it's being the others innings next
time.
"Thank you,' said he, "but there
will be no next time Though it
should no doubt be some satisfaction
to me to have pleased every one by
losing, | shall take care that it does
not occur in the future"
And the words were true. For
Spenser has never to my knowledge
asked him to shoot since that day.
AS for me, the winning of my bet,
though it is undeniably pleasant to
win, was nothing. The unholy joy
of the taking down of Hickson was
much more, and 1 must confess that I
deposited his check for 5000 with a
fierce delight.
And Ethel was happy, too, If may
| i11doo from q cnraD of conversation