4a MOKNING WITH NATURE, ETC. OST 
easily be shot across. Quickly raising my head, I 
sniffed the air, as if I had struck a doubtful or uncer- 
tain scent, then snuffing over again, punched him with 
my foot, told him to keep low and be prepared to shoot, 
at the same time suggesting that he try and see if he 
could not smell them. Such a look as he gave me! 
We came down quietly, and all the time I was ex- 
claiming to him in a whisper, that the scent was grow- 
ing stronger. At last I told him the scent was so strong 
that they would jump out any second. He was only 
half prepared. At my command (I had to be impera- 
tive at this time) he was ready. Giving a few quick, 
strong strokes with my sculling oar, I drove the boat 
into the sand on the inclined shore, making a grating 
noise ; when up jumped, within 30 feet of us, fully fif- 
teen mallards. I dropped one with each barrel, while 
he killed with his first and missed with the second. 
He was too much surprised to move, and I clambered 
over him and picked up the ducks. When I returned 
he hadn’t recovered from his astonishment. 
Said I, “It was very plain there was quite a large 
flock from the strong scent, and had the wind blown 
directly toward us, I could have winded them much 
sooner.” 
He said nothing then, indeed was in deep thought 
for an hour, while I talked along as if nothing unusual 
had happened. That night, as we were rowing along, 
he suddenly dropped his oars, allowed the boat to drift 
with the current, and looking me squarely in the face, 
said, “ Now, no nonsense ; tell me, how you knew those 
ducks were on that point.” 
““Smelled them,” said I. 
“Oh, come! you know I don’t believe that and 
Ai, 
