A MORNING IN A SCULLING FLOAT II 



lake. Two No. 5 shot through the body and an internal 

 hemorrhage have done the trick. I pick him up after 

 running down the cripple and they are as fat as butter. 



How that flock of big duck well on ahead did go into 

 the air at the shots, though little need they have feared 

 at my hands. They were gooseanders and it takes a 

 strong stomach to wrestle with one, though I know of 

 coast gunners down on the Cape who inform me they 

 actually relish a sheldr'ake or two in the Spring as a 

 sort of tonic to tone up the sj^steni after a long hard 

 Winter. 



The firing has caused several bunches to pull out for 

 a less noisy sanctuary, while others have sought seclu- 

 sion in the lake's center, but I shall keep on along the 

 shore and chance picking up enough ere ringing the 

 pond. Away in the distance between me and my objec- 

 tive point, a cluster of black dots ride the silvery sur- 

 face, and being directly on our course w^e will give them 

 a try. Now and then as we bear down, a bird stands 

 on his tail and winnows his wings in air, and we note 

 they are the large broadbill. A very good fowl to scull 

 when not too much hunted. 



These behaved extremely well and I verily believe one 

 could have sculled right up to them, so busy and un- 

 concerned were they as they dove and fed. But 30 yards 

 is plenty near enough in good light and at that distance 

 I sat up with the intention of making the most of the 

 opportunity. As it was I came near losing out on the 



