SHOOTING MALLARDS IN A SNOW STORM. 79 
me not to leave thee, or to turn from following after 
thee, for whither thou goest, I will go, and where thou 
lodgest, I will lodge.” 
I thought at the time the language was sublimely 
beautiful, and gave him credit for it. I knew the ex- 
pression was not original with him, but that he bor- 
rowed it; that it was the language of Ruth to her 
mother-in-law, when Naomi entreated Ruth to return 
to her people. I could not help but admire the apt 
illustration he made, in showing the actual state of his 
feelings. I felt at the time that the quotation was 
made by him with the intention of passing it: off on me 
as original, he not considering the possibility of my be- 
ing posted in Biblical lore. It was an uncharitable act 
on his part, but later years gave me an opportunity to 
retaliate, which I did and no questions asked. 
With the assistance of a couple of the inhabitants, 
who are always to be seen at every small station on the 
arrival of a train, we soon had boat and traps out of the 
car, placed on a wagon, and were bound for the river, 
the deep forest line of which we’could indistinctly see 
through the driving snow. We were both warmly 
dressed, and feared neither cold nor storm. It was a 
short trip to the river, and we were soon ready to start 
out. Our boat was one such as is fully described in 
another part of this volume. Decked over at bow and 
sides, sitting close to the water, her smooth sides and 
rounded bow easily slipping through the water, while 
her stern glided along, scarcely making a ripple. We 
placed our eighteen mallard decoys on the bow, it being 
a handy place to carry them. Besides, in the old dirty 
coffee sack, they made a very necessary blind for us. 
Harry seated himself at the oars, while I, with sculling 
