156 



ORNITHOLOGIST 



[Vol. 16-No. 10 



so out we hustled to dig a trench around the 

 tt'nt, si)iirred on by great drops of rain. You 

 can imagine liow we made tlie sod fly. Putting 

 tilings in order we lay down, waiting for the 

 rain, but it came not until the next day, when 

 it poured down steadily from daybreak until 

 sixteen o'clock. 



The time passed pleasantly, rapidly by, 

 spent tramping about the fields, rowing, fishing 

 and hunting Ducks, most of which were 

 obtained in early morning as they came in to 

 feed. Sunday morning I had quite an adven 

 ture. Les and I rose about 4.30 and tramped 

 around the lake to our duck grounds. Day 

 was just breaking as we hid in tall weeds near 

 edge of water, with the birds, mostly Teal 

 tliis time, settling within easy gunshot. Soon 

 laid low a goodly number, but could not get at 

 them. The water was not deep, but the 

 bottom was so spongy it was impossible to 

 wade any distance, our feet would stick fast, 

 and we could return only with the greatest 

 difficulty. This fact we discovered before, so 

 I volunteered to return to the other side and 

 row across in an old boat left there, and 

 gather up the spoils. 



While making the way round I heard the 

 gun speak several times, so I knew the victims 

 were increasing in number and hastened my 

 steps. Shoving off the skiff, a flat-bottomed 

 affair but wide and light, I started. The first 

 part was easy, the water deep and clear; but 

 the Ducks lay several points farther up, where 

 it was shallow and grown nearly to the surface 

 with sedges. Soon rowing became very labo- 

 rious and then impossible, as I neared them, 

 so I poled the rest of the way. After some 

 little trouble I picked up several Blue and 

 (ireen-winged Teal, also a few Snipe. 



Finding it impossible to land, had to return 

 as I came, without Les, and as he began the 

 walk back, 1 called out jokingly, I would 

 arrive first, my distance being much shorter 

 than liis. 



But alas! I counted without my host. I 

 noticed now that the boat was leaking, and 

 poling became no easier as the shore receded, 

 iu fact I was making but little progress. The 

 water gained on me rapidly, and I began to 

 be al.armed. Had now re.ached deeper water, 

 but the boat sat so low I could not row it. 

 There was to bale it with only my hat. I was 

 in a fix. .Just then Les appeared on the shore 

 and made sarcastic remai-ks about hare 

 and tortoise, told me to come over there and 

 he would help me out — to hurry up or break- 

 fast would be cold — that I'd be late for 



church, etc. An unlucky move gave the boat, 

 now almost full, a slight roll, but enough for 

 the water to pour over the side, and at the 

 same time wash overboard some of our hard- 

 earned game. The water was deep here and 

 the mud deeper still, so no chance to wade or 

 swim ashore. I knew not what to do. The 

 air was chilly, and standing ankle deep in 

 water did not make it warmer; but to my 

 surprise the boat sank no lower, the weeds 

 probably supporting it. So, inch by inch, I 

 gradually poled to shore, where Les helped 

 me land. A run up to camp, a change of 

 clothes and \Varm breakfast jiut me all right 

 again, thankful my little adventure was no 

 worse. 



One morning, while I was busy making skins 

 and George at work on some sketclies he 

 wished to make, Les wandered off with his 

 gun. I finished my work at last, and began 

 preparations for supper about eighteen, but as 

 Les had not returned we waited lor him. The 

 sun sank to rest behind a bank of gorgeous 

 clouds, twilight came on, and the moon sailed 

 out in a clear, calm sky, but still no Les. We 

 were getting alarmed about him, and I was 

 just about to go to hotel, and start out to look 

 for him, fearing an accident, when way up 

 tlie road we heard his cheery whistle. He 

 appeared to be dragging soinetliing lieavy, but 

 our noses informed us what it was, and ue 

 scattered, warning him off from camp. 



He said he had walked around the south 

 lake, and reaching tlie duck grounds had 

 waited for them to come in for the night. 

 While doing so, he saw a large animal coming 

 towards him. Recognizing it as a skunk he 

 laid it low with a load of duck shot, but was 

 surprised to see another and larger one close 

 on its heels. This he also knocked over, and 

 as they lay perfectly still he ai^proaclied. One 

 was not (luite dead, and you may imagine our 

 sensations as he told us how it gurgled when 

 he poked it with the gun and stood on its neck 

 to strangle it. However, nothing serious hap- 

 pened, and the odor we heard was simply from 

 the animals, so we allowed him to come into 

 camp and eat his supper, to which he did full 

 justice. 



On the morning before we left, Les and I 

 went to south lake, as usual, for Ducks, hoping 

 to take a few home. We had poor luck, how- 

 ever, and returned to camp early. Finding 

 breakfast ready, we went to the lake to wash, 

 when I noticed out on the water a large bird 

 swimming about; appeared too large for a 

 Duck, but not large enough for a Goose Run- 



