dly. "Snowbirds, just plain
snowbirds. When I was out feeding the mules just now, I heard a whole
flock of snowbirds fly down the canyon. That's what made me think of the
stew, I suppose."

"Well, if they're no bigger than the snowbirds I've seen," remarked one
boy, "you'd have to have a bushel of them for a meal."

"Do you mean those saucy little fellows with the white breasts that come
with the first snows?"

"Those are the fellows," replied Ham, "and of course you need a lot of
them. But, then, they are so easy to catch if you just get into a flock
of them."

"How do you get them?" inquired Fat, who was always interested in
anything new, so long as it had possibilities of something to eat in it.

"Well, it's a good deal of hard work and some inconvenience until you get
started. But, O my! the eats the next day! Little fat fellows all stewed
down until they're tender."

"Let's get a bunch," suggested Willis weakly, watching Ham for a cue.

"There isn't a gun in the crowd," laughed one.

"You could use clubs, couldn't you?" asked another.

"Well, it's just like this," continued Ham: "you pick out a couple of
fellows for the trappers who are strong and husky, and who aren't afraid
to do their share of the work." Ham smiled at Willis. "Then you place
them one at each side of the canyon. You take a shovel, dig a deep hole
in the snow for the trapper to stand in so he can work easily without
stooping over. Of course, each trapper has a bag, a gunny-sack, or a
common flour sack will do, and a lantern. You can use a candle all right,
if you have no lantern. I've seen very successful hunts conducted by
using candles. The trapper stands with his bag held open between his
legs. It's a good scheme to tie the bag, a side to each knee, so you can
keep the mouth open without using your hands. You'll need them for
numerous other things, probably. The rest of the hunters divide into two
parties, and each party climbs the opposite ridge of the gulch, working
up the canyon without really going through it. In that way the birds are
not disturbed. Then, at a given signal, both parties descend into the
canyon and the hunt begins. Every man must be absolutely silent, for I've
seen one mouthy fellow spoil a whole evening's fun. Now, if any of you
fellows are sure you can't keep still for a little, even in a good deal
of excitement, you better stay here. If we fail, it will be some one's
fault." Ham noticed the sly glances that wer