A Memorable Adventure 145 



birds surprised me not a little. Was it, after all, an 

 animal on the water's edge ? I decided to walk it up, 

 and then my conjecture proved correct, and a solitary 

 duck first left the dark patch towards the coast. With- 

 out more ado, I fired into the dark patch, but I was 

 behind them, for all rose before the shot, and I was 

 thus cheated of a fine coup. I felt I had miscalculated 

 and my efforts had been in vain, for the mass of birds 

 became invisible. " Never daunted" was my motto, 

 and on my way to join the punt I heard behind me the 

 significant whistle of widgeon. They were some dis- 

 tance in the rear, and I was able to ensconce myself 

 among some sand-heaps covered with zostera marina, 

 and I had not long to wait ere a big flight of these birds 

 came straight over my concealed hiding-place. Bang ! 

 Bang ! rang out my trusty fowling-piece. Great Scot ! 

 Seven birds and another floundering close by, which I 

 eventually secured. Though I carried weight, my tread 

 was elastic with success, and on joining my companion 

 I found that he, too, had shared my good fortune — five 

 mallard and three widgeon, a truly memorable night's 

 fowling. 



We wended our way homewards in the frosty Christ- 

 mas air with our pipes well charged and our hands full. 



