210 OUT WITH THE BIRDS 



As I sat up and propped my elbows on my 

 knees, the glasses wobbled and covered another 

 string of geese. Then I slowly swept the west- 

 ern sky-line and found not two but many flocks 

 of wawas; it was evident that the heavy wind 

 during the night and morning had hurried them 

 do^\Ti to the land of broad stubble-fields and 

 good feeding. Rising from the water, they all 

 struck off in the same general course and slowly 

 sank into the dull horizon. It was evident that 

 their intended feeding-ground was several miles 

 beyond the lake, and there were goodly numbers 

 going to it. Plainly the cold weather had had 

 its effect on the knowing ones, and they were 

 down in force much earlier than usual. 



A half-mile walk to a farm-house and a tele- 

 phone put me in communication with Andy. 



"What?" 



" I say there is a flight of geese going out of 

 the lake." 



" Say it again. It sounds good! " 



" Any chance of a run out after them? " 



" How many are there? " 



" Oh, two thousand or so." 



" What are you keeping in that big jar, now? " 



" Honest; I counted 'em every one! " 



