DUCK-SHOOTING. 383 



"You see, I was watching them come closer and 

 closer, and making my calculation to pick out two 

 fine ones. I knew the fellow at the head was an 

 old gander, and tough ; but right behind him came 

 two tender, juicy youngsters — altogether the fattest 

 and best in the whole flock. Well, it took me some 

 time to make this selection, and, letting the old one 

 go by, I was just about preparing to knock over the 

 two others right and left— and done it I should 

 have, because I intended to, you know. Well, I 

 put up ray gun, and was about taking aim, and 

 was waiting for them to get just in the right po- 

 sition — for I was as cool as I am this moment ; an 

 old hunter like me is not easily flurried. Well, they 

 were almost ready, and I was on the point of cut- 

 ting them down, when somebody else — bad luck to 

 him — about a hundred yards off, fired into the 

 flock. Of course they flirted in every direction, 

 and darted about so, that I lost sight of those I 

 selected ; and how could you expect me to kill any 

 others when I had made up my mind to have 

 those? You need not laugh because I missed 

 with both barrels ; I wouldn't have missed if the 

 birds had been in their proper places, where I was 

 pointing my gun." 



So it was that we obtained no geese. But the 

 canvas-backs and mallards, in the early morning, 

 made up for the deficiency ; and when, towards mid- 

 day, they ceased flying, some of our party resolved 

 to pole for wood-ducks. 



To do this, as has been heretofore intimated, re- 



