The Trailer-Blind de Luxe 



327 



number of nine came before 2.30. At 2.30, thirty Geese came, followed in ten 

 minutes by a dozen more." 



Under date of April 22, 1917, I find these notes: "Came to the blind about 

 n o'clock a.m. There were about seventy-five Geese on the pond and one 

 Blue-bill. Geese flew up and alighted in the river farther north than usual. 

 They arose before I reached the blind and flew over the pond and alighted north 

 of the road about one-half mile from the blind. No pictures today." 



On this occasion I fell asleep shortly after I entered the blind and was 

 awakened by the bellowing of the steers that had just been turned out in the 

 pasture. As they came nearer and I could hear them coughing and even 

 breathing, they discovered that the sharp corners of the blind were well fitted 

 to alleviate their itching sides and one after another they came up to the blind 

 and rubbed their heavy bodies against these corners. The blind was elevated 

 about a foot and one-half on four rather slender posts too insecurely attached 

 to endure such rough treatment. Uncertain of the whereabouts of the Geese, 

 I hesitated to make any effort to drive away the steers, and so I lay in the 

 bed waiting for the dawn and hoping that all the itching sides could be re- 

 lieved without the blind being tipped into the pond. While I was waiting I 

 fell asleep but was awakened by the welcome sound of the Geese as they 

 circled the pond, and I saw them close their wings and strike the water while 

 the steers were well off to the further side of the field. 



'WITHIN THREE DAYS THE GEESE BECAME ACCUSTOMED TO THE BLIND 

 AND FED IN FRONT OF IT" 



