Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1908-01-09
ard hunted the upland.

The Major and started through
some meadow land which was divided
By a email stream I soon flushed .
covey. which scattered in soma high
weeds, giving me gool sport. / could
hear the loud report Of the To- bore
and the sharp crack Of the old mus
ket, which told plainly that my frien Is
had found game. 1 had just flushed
a second covey. killing one bird With
the right and two with the left barrel
when the M4jnr came up.
"Ill not hunt with any man who
puts hi4 gun in the run to soak, re-
piled the M.jor.
thought B. had stopped to rest,
but found siterE4rd his quo had be-
come SO dirty from rapid firing that
he had actually. as the Major said,
"put her in the run 10 soak.
After transferring what game l had
killed to the M4jor's cap4ciou' game
bag, we folio Eed the covsy inst flushed
The other dog had come to where l
was shooting, and both dogs were soon
pointing again. The birds were flushed
and the Major scored two misses. l
hal grown somewhat accustomed to
the NJ jors wild shooting. and had
succeeded in killing a number Of birds
before We joined B., whom We found
sitting on the fence, near the run.
Displaying his huge bag, half filled
With birds. the Major cried, "Gst her
out, B."
The sight Of so much game excited
B., who rolled off the fence, and to
my surprise commenced fishing 10 the
stream for his gun. I had supposed
the Major was joking when be told
me what B. nad done. Alter fish,
lug out his gun the question which
presented itself was. how TO dry "her.
Build FIRE aud heat her up,
suggested the Major.
This B. would not do. He prlZ9d
the old musket highly, having picKed
1t up on the battlefield at AntletAm
After a while be succeeded IN drying
It with an old handkerchief.
We rested half an hour, when we
again took the field and were soon
banging away, scoring more misses
than kills. At times l could not
shoot at all for laughing at the Ma
lor's ludicrous remarks.
We returned to my house about
two clock, and counted our game. 1t
amounted to 27 birds and several
rabbits.
On examining the MJor's powder
charger l found that he had been
shooting i've and one-half instead of
four aad one-haIf drains OF powder as
he supposed. l called his attention
to the mistake, and he SAID. mo won
der she kiczed like mule.
After dinner the Major rode back
TO town, where he kept hotel. As
be had promised his guests a game
dinner when he left bone that morn
ing, we gave him all the game. When
be reached town aud rode down the
main street, with his well-6lIed bag
of game, the local sportsmen gathered
around him to see what he had shot
Hs proudly smptied all the game on
the pavement, making them believe
be had killed it.
Rev A, who was boarding with
the Major, asked him who won the
bet.
I'VE tied, and are going to shoot it
off next week" replied the NJ jor.
went to town the next day, and
met Mr.. A on the street. He said,
You had fine sport yesterday"
Yes, l never enjoyed a day better.
What was their score7'
They never grassed bird"
That can't bel The Major said
he and B. had tied, and that they
would shoot it of next week"
l said, "N-ither Of them killed q
bird. Isn't that tle2
he whlstled and said. I'm sold.
A few days later the M4jor aud B.
met, and the oysters were eaten, bu'
the tie was never shot of. 1t VA
the M-jor's last hunt. He has lone
since crossed the river to rest in th'
shade Of the trees.