The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1903-01-09
HUNTED WITH SENATOR VEST.
DO1eful Experience of nm English
man with Dogs That Liked
Strong Scent.

|
| Senator Vest has told many stories,
but one experience of his has not
reached the general reader. 1t oc-
cured many years ago, but the sena-
tor telling it not long ago was still
ehuckling, relates the Boston Globe.
In his younger days Senator Vest
was an ardent hunter and an authority
! IN the wild life of the prairies. He
was living on the advance line of civ
lization, and his home was known far
and wide for its cordial and abundant
hospitality. There Mr.. Vest one day.
received a visit from a rich and IA
nous hunter from London who
brought letter of introduction from
a friend living in the English capital.
And the Englishman had brought with
him his own hunting dogs. Senator
Vest had dogs of his own, and he could
not repress his surprise, but the Eng
lishman asked him to wait and see.
The animals from the other side of the
sea would do wonders when they got
10 work.
In order to get the best shooting
quail was the game sought-it was nee
essary to drive far out on the prairie
beyond even the suggestion of civiliza-
ton. The hunters and the attendants
got in the big wagon, and the dogs fol-
lowed. They drove for many miles,
and finally the wagon was left in the
! care of the men, and Mr.. Vest and the
! Englishman started out on the quest.
They did we'll. The dogs of the Eng
lishman were not worth much, but the
Missouri breed gave excellent sport.
Gust wait and give my dogs
chance" declared the Englishman.
"All they need is a stronger scent"
"They got it," said the senator tell
ing the story "Yes, they got it. Some
distance away was a little hill, and in
the side of the little hill were little
hokes Suddenly the Englishman's dogs
got the stronger scent and started for
the little hill with the little holes.
"sCall them back shouted to the
Englishman.
$50, no. he replied. Now they've
got it. Now they've got it,
"'They will get it if they don't keep
away from there 1 answered. But
with all l could do could not call him
back. He would not listen and he got.
so excited that he started on run
after his dogs.
"Well, it was my time to be moving
too, for l knew what was coming; so
I called my dogs and made for the
wagon as fast as the good Lord would
let me- Just as l crawled in l turned
and saw the show, and l never pitied
ANYBODY in my life as much as | did
that Englishman with the dogs that
wanted a stronger scent. Out OF the
| holes came little animals, and you
never saw such a mixup in your life.
The dogs ran for the Englishman and
jumped around him for protection.
Then the Englishman tried to get away
from the dogs for protection, too, and
the whole combinat ton started for the
wagon.
"'Put the whip to the horses told
my man and don't let them get
within ha& a mile of u.s.
"'Hi there, wait for mel cried the
Englishman.
keep your distance responded,
and to the driver 1 said: Whip 'em
up
$50 we went mile after mile over that
prairie. pitied the Englishman from
the bottom of my heart, but there are
times when pity must not get too
close. l kept him in sight so that he
should not miss the way, but he had
to walk. Once inawhile he would run,
as though I would allow him to catch
up with the wagon, but every time he
did we put on more speed. When we
neared the town had to call back to
him that his company would not be de-
sirable for at least "a hours. l never
saw him again."
Sand the little animals in the little
holes in the little hill, senator?" Mr..
Vest was asked.
"Polecats," replied the senator.
''The Englishman had read about quail
living in holes in the prairie hills and
he wouldn't change his mind when I
tried to explain things to him. But
those dogs of his certainly did get all
the scent they wanted-there was. no
mistake about that"