Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-13

laborious passage. AS he regained firm
ground 1 saw that he held in one hand the
turkey and in the other his gun and the
remains of four-foot moccasin snake.
''You see that cuss? l come within an
inch of putin my han right onto his head
an him a-waitin' fer me in the tussock-
whar the turkey lodged. more pisoner
than q RATHER by plum sight.
Fourth and Last.
We then had about eighteen pounds Of
turkey, so I was for seeking camp at once
and divesting the birds of their jackets,
before the day became too hot for comfort
But Jim was in favor Of having another
try" at the swamp. for he seemed to feel
that his reputation was at stake, and
wanted to give me my fill for once of tur-
key. l had never for a moment imagined
that I should reach the exalted state OF
possessing surplusage OF WIG turkey. ou.
I had achieved it with two shots. however,
I reluctantly followed Jim's lead once more
and again we plunged into the woods. Halt
an hour or so later we detected men tur-
key squatting in the crotch or limD nlsn
above the trees about her. AS she esp1ed
us and started awning her career was in
continently cut short. and the tale OF her
ending may be found in that Of bird NUMBER
one NV score was then three turkeys, any
one of which would have satisfied hunter
tainly running my way. that day SO long
ago; and as it CHANGED, so was another
turkey which came bursting out or the
bush with the speed of lightning express.
Not so fast, however that l did not send a
charge of number four whistling around
his Wattles-aimed well ahead Of him. by
the way-some of which administered a
quick quietus to his majesty. He toppled
over with a heavy thud after bringing UP
against the bole of a ''palmeeter' tree,
and was gyrating wildly about on his head
and shoulders when L ran up and seized
him by the neck.
He Had Enough.
To keep on shooting turkeys for which
we could have no possible use was wan
ton waste of which 1 would not be guilty.
and 1 refused to proceed further, much to
Jim's disgust. I have often thought since
that I could have wished those turkeys
spread out over a week or so OF hunting,
for 1 have a keen appreciation of the
pleasure attendant upon stalking g. wary
animal and a thousand times have thrilled
with the huntsmans sensations; but there
can be too much of a good thtng-at one
time-as 1 concluded that morning We
''toted" the turkeys back to camp. and as
was an ardent naturalist those days,
practicing the taxidermist's art as an anna
teur, I Invested the best birds of their
feathery teguments. sprinkled them with
arsenic and stuffed them with dry Spanish
moss. Their flesh we broiled on sticks over
a light wood fire. and I recall that 1t was
very good; though vastly better was the
meat Of the birds which were left with
their skins intact.
Only twice since that eventful morning
have seen the wild turkey In its habitat.
That is if may except another species OF
.'Meieagris." the oceliated turkey of Yucca
tan, which once hunted among the ruins
of that wonderful peninsula-and quite an
other story. Once. as was prowling along
the inland bank of Indian river. stalking a
wary sand-hill crane. I suddenly became
aware of a bulky body high o'erhead 1t
was an immense male turkey, right out In
the open; but oh! SO high up toward the
blue! 1 'let fly" as matter Of course:
but seem to hear the rattle OF those shot
today as they smote impotently the big
bronze wings Of the speeding fowl. and have
often since laughed at the figure of my
earlier self, staring after the escaping bird
in open-mouthed amazement.
Chasing Flock.
Yet again, and for the last time, was
favored with glimpse Of wild turkeys In
Florida. 1t was one hot afternoon in mid
summer, 1876. Having missed my train,
genial station agent had secured me per-
mission to go through the great hammock
on a pole-car Some time after our start,
I remember, we were speeding along rapid
ly, two big colOred men on each side push
ing the car vigorously by means OF poles,
D.
ahead on the track flock of wild turkeys.
There were all of dozen In the bunch,
gigantic gobbler In the lead and the rest
trailing behind like the tail to a comet.
They had heard. US coming and had seen us,
of course, as soon as we saw them: but
they kept true to the track, running for
dear life between the rails. seemingly with
out a thought Of their wings, which were
half opened at their sides. Right in the
center of the glistening rails they sped
along; but, fast as they ram our car. poled
by the excited negroes, gained on them
old army gun. loaded for just such an
emergency with a handful of powder and
bucksiot, good either for turkey or for
bear, and he sat well In front, with rusty
barrel raised and finger on the trigger. We
were almost near enough for him to '1et
loose into that closely compacted flock,
and were already mentally calculating the
probable number of victims-not less than
half dozen, at the least-when. out
from the wake OF the car, where he had
been running all alone and unobseryed,
darted an old waller dog. Seeming some
thing interesting ahead. he emerged with
loud yelps, and at once the spell was
broken. Until the moment OF his emergence
everything had worked with charming reg
ularfty. The pole-car had run silently, ex-
cept for the clang OF the wheels on the
rails as they sprang the joints, while the
turkeys apparently had determined to make
the run on foot all the way to the gulf.
But with the advent of the cur dog there
was flock OF Wild turkeys In the air at
once. and In another moment they were
lost in the dark recesses of the great pal
metto hammock
There was q victim, however. to the fore
mans unerring aim. and the disposition he
made Of the charge Of buckshot was APP
plauded by everybody on the car, except
r. A. ODER.