DUCK-SIIOOTING. 391 



Our discussion, as was intended on my part, at- 

 tracted the attention and interest of all the mem- 

 bers, and my opponent waited with a victorious air 

 till I should bring him my largest bird. At last, 

 afler much procrastination, it was produced amid 

 such shouts as rarely rang through the old club- 

 house. In vain did my Kentucky friend attempt to 

 disclaim his acquisition or propose to w^aive his 

 rights ; " he would have the bird, and he must take 

 him ; it was a remarkably fine one of the kind, and 

 a good specimen." At last he burst forth : 



" Oh, get out with your cormorant ; take him 

 away; do, and I'll never make another bet with 

 you as long as I live." 



To this day, in that section of the West, a man 

 who is too exacting occasionally wins a cormorant. 



The time that circumstances permitted me to de- 

 vote to pleasure was drawing to a close, and the 

 last morning that was to be appropriated to the 

 ducks had arrived, when, as I was about loading 

 my boat, Henry stood before me, and with great 

 earnestness remarked : 



" I am going to shoot with you to-day, sir." 



If he had said, "I am going to shoot you," he 

 could not have spoken with more firmness and so- 

 lemnity ; or, if he had anticipated the most violent 

 contradiction, he could not have assumed a more 

 convincing manner. The proposal, as it suggested 

 an augmented bag for my last day, w^as, however, 

 cordially welcome ; and, as soon as he was ready, I 

 inquired in an unconcerned manner: 



