252 WILD FOWL SIIOOTING. 
“Did you see it before you went out ?” said he. 
“ Notat all. I saw where the bird fell : it was crip- 
pled and when it did not come up at once, I knew it had 
grabbed hold of something and drowned itself. Don’t 
know as the duck is to blame, as its death was easier that 
way than to be riddled with that murderous gun of 
yours. There is nothing unusual about their meeting 
death in this way, I have known them to do so time and 
again.” 
Just then a drake came along over us, high up, and 
holding fully three feet ahead of him, I had the satisfac- 
tion of seeing him come down dead. The shot was 
fired right over my companion’s head; he evidently 
heard it, for he jumped up excitedly and said, “ What 
in blazes are you doing, trying to blow the top of my 
head off?” : 
“ Notatall,” said I. « The duck was killed, and taking 
into consideration that fact, I didn’t think you were in 
any great danger.” 
“Tt strikes me,” said he, “ that you are too careless. 
Some day you will shoot somebody. I never have 
hunted much just on that account ; afraid some careless 
fellow like yourself would shoot me.” 
“If you live until I shoot you, you will live a great 
many years,” said I; “and if it is all the same to you, 
don’t swing your gun this way quite so often.” 
*“ You needn’t be afraid of me, I am too old a man to 
be fooling with a gun, and have it go off acci ss 
He didn’t finish what he started out to, simply be- 
cause his gun did go off accidentally. Such a sheepish 
look as he gave me. 
“ Gosh!” said he, “I don’t see how that happened.” 
* Don’t you? ” said I ; * then I will tell you. For the 
