56 WILD FOWL SHOOTING. 
at your left, down about 80 yards. Didn’t you see 
him ? I did, a drake swimming at the edge of the brush, 
right at the foot of that old tree. I justcaughta glimpse 
of the white on his rump. Watch for him. There? 
There! Good enough; he never winked after you 
fired; he is as dead as a mackerel. Look out! Give 
it to her! Well! Well! It took three shots to get her, 
but better that than three misses. You undershot her 
as she rose over the trees, and I missed her clean with 
the first barrel. Pick up that drake as ‘we pass. No! 
No! not that way, not by the feet or wing; if you do, 
the water will be carried into the boat. Always pick 
them up by the bill, give them a couple of jerks upand 
down; that will shake the water off. Here’s our duck, 
pick her up. I noticed four light in the stream below 
us. The stream is narrow and crooked, and we ought 
to get at them. Keep down, and when I give you 
a slight bash, rise quickly to a sitting position and let 
them have it over the left quarter of the bow; they 
will be there, for with a quick turn of the oar I will 
turn the hoat so as to make it so. Try and getin your 
first barrel very quick, for remember, there wiil be 
three waiting to follow. Be careful, and shoot clear 
of the blind. I have had companions in their excite- 
ment bang away into the blind, and even in their haste 
fire into the sack of decoys. There they are out in that 
opening! See how contentedly they sit! Look at that 
drake preen himself! We will get a shot sure, they are 
not the least suspicious. Where would we be with a 
common skiff? Simply left: they would have both seen 
and heard us long ago. Hug close to the bottom of 
the boat, untilI push you. That’s right! That’s right! 
Hurrah! Got the whole four: at one time I thought 
