124 DUCKING DAYS 



pond. The birds commenced to return. They came 

 singly, in pairs, flocks and swarms. 



"The game warden was onr official retriever. He 

 tore up his union card and worked overtime. Chief 

 Buffalo Hump (Parmelee) turned loose the heavy artil- 

 lery and proved himself an artist with a scatter gun. 

 There was no shot too difficult for him to attempt and 

 successfully execute. He was a duck artist from every 

 angle. 



* ' When our human retriever evinced signs of weaken- 

 ing we inunediately tossed into his system a little 'elixir 

 of pep,' which eliminated the tired feeling. He again 

 went bounding over the bogs, prairies and into the water 

 after our birds. When the grand summary was made 

 we had seventy-four ducks and eight geese. This was 

 no reflection on our game warden, as the game limit was 

 high in those days." 



The following day the captain took his birds in to 

 San Antonio, where he gave a series of duck dinners at 

 the Neuces Hotel in honor of his old friend Dick Mer- 

 rill and wife. 



Eockport Bay, except in time of storm, is so completely 

 landlocked that it presents a mirrorlike surface, very in- 

 viting for the holding of duck conventions and conclaves. 



Fred Gilbert, Hick Merrill and the plaintiff lingered 

 around Eockport for several days. We pronounced it 

 the duck's paradise; 



