138 CURRITUCK MARSHES. 



being retrieved by our four legged companion, Wil- 

 liam sagely remarked: 



"I have observed that generally there is some 

 misfortune connected with what would make the 

 finest shots, and that at such times something is sure 

 to go wrong ; either the birds do not come in right, 

 or a twig or reed gets in front of you, the gun misses 

 fire, or something else happens, so that the best 

 chances usually prove the worst." 



'' There is an awful deal in luck," I replied, '^ after 

 all is said, Napoleon's star was not an imaginary 

 planet by any means. I never was a lucky sports- 

 man, and have had to earn my game by the sweat of 

 my brow." 



'^Did you ever know a sportsman who would ad- 

 mit that he was lucky ?" inquired William, calmly. 



^'1 can't say that I ever did ; but if you will keep 

 still and not fluster me with unnecessary generaliza- 

 tions, I will kill that pair of widgeons that are com- 

 ing over the marsh, luck or no luck." 



After uttering that boast, I had to make my words 

 good, and though I detected a twinkle in my com- 

 panion's eye, as if he would not mincl should I hap- 

 pen to miss just that once, I took care to aim straight, 

 not the sort of excessive care that invariably results 

 in a miss, but the rapid and confident deliberation 

 that first holds the gun right and then pulls it off 

 when it is right, without waiting until it gets wrong. 



''Good," said William, sotto voce, in his quiet wa}^ 

 as the two ducks, doubled up by the full charge of 

 shot came down splash into the mud, close to our 



