132 DUCKIKG DAYS 



nine mallards with the six shots. Got six at another 

 time. "V^Hien I got the nine the bunch flew completely 

 around me and I could have put in several more shots 

 had I have had another gun. They came in, all of them, 

 about ten feet above the stubble, with wings set and legs 

 dangling, and one glance at my dead decoys brought 

 them pell-mell right on top of me. The only time there 

 was any rushing or jumping was when four or more 

 flocks tried to alight in the same place at the same time. 

 I think I shot as many birds while I was out of the blind 

 gathering up the dead ducks as I did when I was under 

 cover. They could not see anything but those dead 

 ducks on the shocks and the prospect for some good eats. 

 Next day I went out to the lake and made a blind in 

 a muskrat house. The first shot my gun went on the 

 blink and I had to shoot a single-shot gun until noon. 

 I went up to the house for lunch and took the gun apart 

 and found two' screws, one bolt and three springs broken. 

 I patched it up with a match, some wire and a small nail 

 and got it to working fine (in the house). I went back to 

 the lake and at the first shot the wire went one way, 

 the match the other, and the nail may be going yet for 

 all I know. I shot a single shot the rest of the day and 

 in addition had to hold up the carriage with the fingers 

 of my left hand to get it to work at all. Some shooting, 

 however. The ducks came in to rest and I dropped 

 them in clear water, and every time I waited for chances 

 to get doubles and triples with one shot. I will admit 

 I played the hog, but there appears to be an understand- 



