Eve of Christmas 151 



At length the music of voluminous wings, beating 

 the air, sounded nearer and nearer. On and on came the 

 legions in much quicker time than I take in relating it, 

 until myriads seemed to pass over the disc of the silvery 

 moon. Many of these perched not far away, and I could 

 distinctly hear them ravenously tearing at the vegetation 

 behind me. Presently a small gaggle, headed by a single 

 sentinel, with his distinctive " Torock," came straight 

 for me — seven in all. Raising my weapon, that had 

 stood me in good stead on many a similar expedition, I 

 pulled well ahead of the foremost goose, which, doubtless 

 seeing the movement of my barrels, swung round right- 

 handed, and down it came to the brink of the gully. I 

 pulled again, but to no effect ; and the remaining half 

 dozen flew seawards, their notes of relief or warning being 

 drowned in the multitudinous sounds created by the 

 main herd of brents rising in a complete cloud on the 

 left. 



I had secured my much coveted Christmas Goose, and 

 prepared to trudge homeward to the hospitable fireside. 

 As I was about to remove the empty cartridges, however, 

 preparatory to my return, again my trained ear caught 

 the sound of wings, which I knew by intuition to belong 

 widgeon, and saw straight overhead such a host, travel- 

 ling low during the now overclouded moon. 



My trusty firearm thundered forth its duet of sounds, 

 and birds flumped down around me, beyond my wildest 

 expectations ; for I gathered five, all told. I walked 

 home with an elastic tread, and felt an inborn conviction 

 that for one flighting I had done not amiss. Had I 

 secured none I would not have been disappointed seeing 

 the place chosen was strange to me and there is the satis- 

 faction that I saw birds in great variety and considerable 

 in numbers ; but the possession of my coveted goose, 

 plus five widgeon and a mallard fully compensated me for 

 time spent and the piercing winds of a desolate mud-flat. 



I invariably go alone with the shoulder-gun in quest of 

 fowl, for the simple reason that I can do my own bidding, 

 and secure my prey in my own way. ' ' Individuality, 

 in this sport, courts success," is my motto ; and I have 



