The Washington herald., 1911-07-23
CoPYRIGHr BY JAMES BLVERsoN

COPYRIGHT ny yAHbS BLVSh00"
ElR GEORGE GRAY, Of New York
mi city, was visiting his brother, who
younger, Mr.. Gray had been an ar.
dent gunner and especially fond OF
wing-shooting. Now that he was too OLD 70
do much tramping himself, he tranferred his
nenhcws the sons Of his farmr-brother.
The evening Of the 31st of July be called
the two boys up 70 him, where he sat on the
broad farmhouse piazza.
"Are You ready for the opening OF the M
think you ought TO get few, although ]
hear that, owing to the unusual rains, the
high water in the sw.mps may have killed
many Of the young birds"
Guy, who was year or two older than his
There's no trouble about our being ready
for woodcock hunt. But there's held OF
oats that father thinks ought to be cut, and
he wants us to stay at home and work at
that So we've given up the idea OF q hunt.
Mr.. Gray went into the house where his
brother was. In a few minutes he came out
and spoke again to his nePhews:
'.Boys,. I've had q little talk with your
father, and he says that, if you get up early
and put in long forenoon at the oats, he
Cutting short the boys thanks for his inter
cession, their uncle went on:
Now, in order to give you proper amount
OF enthusiasm, I'm going to offer prize Tor
the first woodcock that is bagged. Next
spring, IN send to the one that brings down
the first bird tomorrow the best pointer-puppy
! can find In New York"
The boys were up early on August l and
had accomplished 20 much work by noon that
their father gladly gave the desired half-holi-
day.
They had decided to 60 to a piece Of low,
bush-covered ground. which lay about five
miles away. None OF the horses could be
spared from the farm work, but they had
confidence in their sturdy muscles, and looked
They started Immediately after the early
dinner. Each boy carried : Light breech-ioad
iny shotgun and had a score OF loaded shells
in his pocket.
&c their heels followed the third member of
the hunting party, the old setter, Flash. He
was so old and slow that his name seemed
irany; yet he was reliable and faithful
worker, and the boys had shot many quail
and woodcock before his trusty nose.
iiy the time their destination was reached,
the hunters found that their work in the
fields, added TO the long walk, had tired them
out, in spite Of their powers OF endurance:
However, when they once got among the
birds they hoped they should forget fatigue
Their uncle's promise of new hunting dog
But it seemed as if they were never destined
to get among the woodcock. In vain they
tramped, and m vain Flash made wide circles
around them. No birds were to be found.
Its easy to see what the trouble is, said
Guy, finally, stopping to look ruefully at his
muddy shoes. 'eThis marsh is full of water
more SO than / ever saw it before. The
woodcock have left it and gone to higher
groune; but where, I'm quite sure don't
know"
Evidently there are none here" replied
his brother, "and confess Pm about as tired
as / want to be when / think of that long
few minutes later, as they walked on,
Flash being at one side OF them, woodcock,
which had been feeding just at the edge Of
q low alder thicket, rose in front of them In
and, though each gun was fred, the bird kept
on unharmed
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