324 BIRD-LIFE OF THE BORDERS 



wild creatures. Some of the wigeon still keep their feet — 

 those on the higher level ; but the competition for such 

 spots of vantage is keen and spirited. Ever that indistinct 

 outline ahead keeps altering as the outside ranks, now 

 afloat, spring on wing and try to wedge themselves among 

 the crowd on the favoured spot beyond. Now the great 

 gun bears well within range ; already the nearer stragglers 

 begin to "lift" — the alarm is sounded; and inside that 

 same instant the roar of a thousand wings blends with the 

 louder boom of the stancheon-gun and near a pound of 

 No. 3 traverses the ranks. Now, the silvery sea is 

 strewn with dead ; and, shoving full speed ahead, the 

 cripple-stopper is brought to bear on all that show signs 

 of life. There are few cripples at night- — since ranges are 

 then short ; and in less time than it takes to write this, all 

 that we can see are secured, and perhaps six or eight 

 couple' — on happy occasion, more than that — of mallards 

 and wigeon justify the prudence of the earlier hours. 



There still want four hours till the dawn, when there 

 may be a chance of again falling in with duck ere they 

 take wing for the open sea. How to spend those hours 

 is an ever-recurring problem in night-punting. To drop 

 anchor and coil oneself up as snugly as is compatible with 

 circumstances, appears the easiest mode ; but it is mad- 

 ness. So long as a man remains awake and in full action, 

 no cold will hurt — provided, that is to say, that he is 

 naturally sound and of strong constitution. But to go to 

 sleep in the night-air is the height of folly, and sooner or 

 later entails certain retribution. 1 Suffice it to add that a 



1 This, when written twenty years ago, was merely prophetic. I can 

 now testify, in propria persona, to its absolute accuracy : but, after these 

 many years' fowling, I am thankful to have escaped more lightly than some 

 contemporaries. 



