Duck ShootiiiiT in Mexico. 



then the g'lorious moment, when yon 

 see them and they see you. There may 

 be a dozen, fift}', or, perhaps, a 

 thousand. Be quick, they won't wait. 

 One barrel as they rise, and the other 

 as quick as you can afterwards. Mark 

 down the game, they won't go far, and 

 then pick up the slain. 



A dinner under a shady tree, with a 

 cool breeze and a good appetite, is 

 usually not a long one, especially when 

 the distant ducks call us to their 

 slaughter. Some baked beans from 

 Boston, and some deviled ham from 

 Chicago, a cracker or two, a bottle of 

 beer (Jose had to content himself with 

 lake water), a sardine, and the lunch 

 was over. 



No cuervillos would do us this time. 

 Nothing but ducks; good legitimate 

 ducks. No sawbilled, fish-eating sub- 

 stitute, but the genuine article, who has 

 winged his flight a thousand leagues 

 from the frozen north to fatten on the 

 wheat fields of this glorious valley. 

 "Jose, cut some bullrushes and tie 

 them around the bow. They will 

 answer the triple purpose of a blind, 

 shade and sail, as we drift down 

 on those spoonbills. Restrain your 

 ardor, don't paddle, only steer. There 

 is plenty of time. In this country, it 

 don't fly like ducks, it only drifts like a 

 canoe. See how they huddle as they 

 sniff the tainted breeze. No such odor 

 as that was ever wafted over this lake 

 before. The deviled ham was a 

 trifle strong, and they got a w^hiff 

 of it. Doctor, I'll take 'em as 

 they rise, and you turn your choke 

 bore into them as they scoot off 

 before the breeze. There they go." 

 Bang! Bang! Bang! "Now we'll count 

 the victims. Jose, dig in with that 

 paddle and let us get between those 

 flappers and the rushes, or we'll never 



see them more. Hit him with the 

 paddle. Do6lor, don't shoot; take no vil- 

 lainous advantage of him, and besides, 

 cartridges are worth eight cents a-piece 

 in this country. Eleven spoonbills, 

 three teal and a mallard; fairly good 

 for a starter. Now we'll creep around 

 this island to the lee of the rushes, and 

 see what fortune has in store for us on 

 the other side. Stretch out those 

 blankets, Doc. Jose, put the grip 

 under his head, and get the craft a 

 little into the trough of those gentle 

 ripples, and we will rock him to sleep. 

 Now yoii're all right. How does that 

 compare with standing up to your 

 middle in cold water behind a blind ? 

 You can take a cigar now. It's smoke 

 W'ill be an antidote for the deviled 

 ham." 



Silent as the shadow on the lake, 

 except for an occasional yawm from the 

 Doctor, we glide along. "Jose, hold 

 her close to the tules as we pass that 

 low point ahead. There are some mud 

 flats beyond, where the white brant 

 congregate, a savory bird that carries 

 twixt bone and feather a salve for irri- 

 tated stomachs which no apothecary can 

 counterfeit. Joseph, hold thy breath, 

 or the distant birds will smell it, for 

 they be shy and wary. Doctor, w^ake 

 up; blankets and gripsacks can always 

 be lolled vipon, but the snowy brant, 

 fattened on tapetian wheat and flavored 

 by the growth of tender herbs that 

 sprout perpetually on the borders of 

 crystal lakes, where Spring ever smiles, 

 are game for kings. Bear that in mind, 

 thou democratic wanderer from the 

 north. Load with No. 4 for these 

 birds, for, knowing the pleasures of 

 life, they are loth to leave it, and die 

 hard. That fellow^ off to the left is the 

 sentinel. Happily, yonder half -naked 

 herder claims his attention. Thev see 



