every pellet
tells, and dozens may be brought down at a single discharge.

"In my progress through the woods, I had got separated from my
companions, when I observed an immense flock approaching me after the
manner described. I saw from their plumage that they were young birds,
and therefore not likely to be easily alarmed. I drew my horse (I was
mounted) behind a tree, and awaited their approach. This I did more
from curiosity than any other motive, as, unfortunately I carried a
rifle, and could only have killed one or two at the best. The crowd
came `swirling' forward, and when they were within some ten or fifteen
paces distant, I fired into their midst. To my surprise, the flock did
not take flight, but continued to advance as before, until they were
almost among the horse's feet. I could stand it no longer. I drove the
spurs deeply, and galloped into their midst, striking right and left as
they fluttered up round me. Of course they were soon off; but of those
that had been trodden upon by my horse, and others I had knocked down, I
counted no less than twenty-seven! Proud of my exploit, I gathered the
birds into my bag, and rode in search of my companions.

"Our party on this day numbered over 800 head killed; but, to our
surprise and chagrin, our antagonists had beaten us by more than a
hundred!

"The gentlemen of `ours' were wretched. The belles were monopolised by
our antagonists; we were scouted, and debarred every privilege.

"It was not to be endured; something must be done. What was to be done?
counselled we. If fair means will not answer, we must try the opposite.
It was evident that our antagonists were better shots than we.

"The colonel, too, was one of them, and he was sure to kill every time
he pulled trigger. The odds were against us; some plan must be devised;
some _ruse_ must be adopted, and the idea of one had been passing
through my mind during the whole of that day. It was this:--I had
noticed, what has been just remarked, that, although the pigeons will
not allow the sportsman to come within range of a fowling-piece, yet at
a distance of little over a hundred yards they neither fear man nor
beast. At that distance they sit unconcerned, thousands of them upon a
single tree. It struck me that a gun large enough to throw shot among
them would be certain of killing hundreds at each discharge; but where
was such a gun to be had? As I reflected thus, `mountain howitzers'
came into