The fox rarely barked at night; the deer and wild turkey were far less plentiful, though the ruffed grouse still drummed in the copses, and the quail whistled from the fences.

Different, even, were the hunters in their methods.

The boy, whose single-barreled shot-gun had known no law, now carried a better piece, and scorned to slay a sitting bird.

Both he and Alf became great wing shots, and clever gentlemen sportsmen from the city who sometimes came to hunt with them could not hope to own so good a bag at the day's end.

Wise as to dogs and horses were they, too, and keen riders at country races.