le creek, where a crust of ice fringed the
shore. "Major," said Horton, "de las' time I see dat big flock uv birds,
wuz in de stubble de uther side de orchid." The Major worked the dogs
toward the stubble-field. Sam, the old English setter, began to trail,
halting occasionally to sniff the breeze.

"I think we will locate them in the sorghum patch," said the Major. Sam
was creeping cautiously through the sage grass just above the sorghum
field. Presently he came up erect and rigid, Bess, the trim little Irish
setter, behind him at back-stand. "Steady, there! Ho, steady! Can you
beat that, doctor?" cried the Major. "Get to the lower side of them,
Shawn, so we can drive them to the orchard--flush, Sam!" The old setter
sprang forward and the birds arose from the ground with an exciting
flutter. The guns roared and two birds fell. Doctor Hissong was
reloading, ramming the charge home with a long hickory ramrod. With
trembling hand, Major LeCroix drew the cork from his powder-horn, and
endeavored to pour the powder into the barrel.

"Let me load for you," said Shawn.

"No, indeed, I'm not too old to load my gun." He stood for a moment
looking at the shot-pouch. "Here, boy, maybe you had better load for
me." A tinge of sadness crept over his features, but gave way to an
expression of joy when Shawn said, "You and the doctor got your birds
that time, I missed." Horton gave Shawn a grateful glance. They got into
the scattered birds, the Major and Doctor Hissong thoroughly enjoying
the sport. As each bird came from cover, Shawn held his fire, and
followed closely after the shots of doctor Hissong and Major LeCroix,
and as each bird fell, he would shout, "Good shot, Major!" or "Good
shot, doctor!" They got into the lower bottoms, and by noon Horton
showed a fine bag of game. Shawn modestly refused to claim but a few of
the birds, but Horton knew of his unerring marksmanship, and wondered
at his unselfishness. Major LeCroix and Doctor Hissong were in jubilant
spirits as they turned homeward. Old Sam, the setter, limped painfully
behind the doctor.

[Illustration: "You and the doctor got your birds."]

"What crippled Sam?" asked the Major.

"I loaned him to a young fellow from Ohio last winter," said the doctor,
"I reckon about the greenest young man that ever went into the field. He
told Brad that he didn't know when nor how to shoot at the birds, and
the old black rascal said, 'Jes' shoot whar de dawg sets,' and
unfortunat