CONTRASTS IN WILDFOWLING 417 



deep water some half-a-mile outside our position, the 

 other section going* out to sea. But Fortune was 

 only toying with us : for after patiently waiting till 

 the flowing tide had carried the ducks into shoal 

 water where an attack was possible, we had once 

 more to submit to failure. This pack was composed ex- 

 clusively of wigeon (the other having been at least one-third 

 mallards, which are always easier of access by daylight), 

 and refused to be cajoled, rising some 300 yards off, and 

 following their companions to the open sea. 



Up to this point our lack of success had arisen ex- 

 clusively from circumstances beyond our control — fogs, 

 storms, tides, and the like. But now we did throw away 

 a last remaining chance, to some extent through an error 

 in judgment. Far away along the edge of the rapidly 

 disappearing mud, we descried our "pricked" goose — a 

 black dot bobbing about on the tide ; not another fowl was 

 in sight. A careful scrutiny of the few remaining banks 

 with the binoculars satisfied us that no ducks remained 

 anywhere near us, so I proceeded to gather the "pen- 

 sioner." Alas! as the report of the cripple-stopper rang 

 out across the waters, there rose from behind the bank of 

 a tiny creek over a score of ducks — all mallards— which, 

 had we but detected their presence, would in all prob- 

 ability have fallen an easy prey. Fortune and the 

 elements conspired to deprive us of the few chances which 

 are the utmost that can be expected in a mild season, and 

 with despondent hearts we watched the little string of 

 mallards, our last hope, speeding away to the open sea. 



The rest of the day was spent in fruitless attempts to 

 outmanoeuvre the impracticable geese. Once only did we 

 appear within measurable distance of getting a chance. 

 This was by running-down on them under sail, and luffing 



2d 



