nt I had
never dreamt of; for in one morning--before tasting my breakfast--I
caused no less than nineteen of these animals to utter their last
squeak! But I shall give the details of this `feat' as they happened.

"It was in the autumn season--the most beautiful season of the forest--
when the frondage obtains its tints of gold, orange, and purple. I was
abed in the house of my friend, but was awakened out of my sleep by the
`gobbling' of wild turkeys that sounded close to the place.

"Although there was not a window in my room, the yellow beams streaming
in through the chinks of the log wall told me that it was after
`sun-up.'

"I arose, drew on my garments and hunting-habiliments, took my rifle,
and stole out. I said nothing to any one, as there was no one--neither
`nigger' nor white man--to be seen stirring about the place. I wanted
to steal a march upon my friend, and show him how smart I was by bagging
a fat young `gobbler' for breakfast.

"As soon as I had got round the house, I saw the turkeys--a large `gang'
of them. They were out in an old corn-field, feeding upon such of the
seeds as had been dropped in the corn-gathering. They were too far off
for my gun to reach them, and I entered among the corn-stalks to get
near them.

"I soon perceived that they were feeding towards the woods, and that
they were likely to enter them at a certain point. Could I only reach
that point before them, reflected I, I should be sure of a fair shot. I
had only to go back to the house and keep around the edge of the field,
where there happened to be some `cover.' In this way I should be sure
to `head' them--that is, could I but reach the woods in time.

"I lost not a moment in setting out; and, running most of the way, I
reached the desired point.

"I was now about a mile from my friend's house--for the corn-field was a
very large one--such as you may only see in the great plantations of the
far western world. I saw that I had `headed' the turkeys, with some
time to spare; and choosing a convenient log, I sat down to await their
coming. I placed myself in such a situation that I was completely
hidden by the broad green leaves of some bushy trees that grew over the
log.

"I had not been in that position over a minute I should think, when a
slight rustling among the leaves attracted my attention. I looked, and
saw issuing from under the rubbish the long body of a snake. As yet, I
could not see its tail, which w