MALLARD—TIMBER SHOOTING. 113 
to kill; but after you fired at the drake, and the smoke 
cleared away, the duck had too much the start of you, 
and consequently got away. Bear this in mind here- 
after, that when two ducks come in, in killing distance, 
always shoot the one farther away first. Iam going 
to leave you, now, right in this blind. Ihave placed 
you where the ducks are, and it would be ungenerous 
on your part to expect me to kill them, — you must do 
that. By the way, please keep secret this place; it’s a 
favorite one of mine. I found it two years ago, and 
right in this very place, at that time, an inexperienced 
shot and myself bagged me mallards in two days. 
