288 WILD FOWL SHOOTING. 
The shooter is in the bow, sitting on the hay in the 
bottom of the boat—no seats—is silently watching 
through a peep-hole in the ice, the distant geese. The 
sculler, half sitting, half reclining, easily propels the 
boat along, by his sculling oar bound with leather, and 
working in the sculling hole in the stern of the boat. 
The boat moves with the current then, seeing a huge 
cake that looks as if it might crush the boat coming 
right at it, the sculler with a few rapid strokes shoots 
the boat quickly forward, and the immense cake floats 
idly along, not even grazing the boat: then again, to 
avoid another, he holds to the ice with oar or hand un- 
til some piece passes them, for they not only want to 
avoid being caught between the cakes, but also to keep 
from making the slightest noise. So well are they 
hidden that blue-bills sweep over them so near they can 
almost feel the wind of their wings, mallards circle 
around them, pin-tails whistle in the air; then a lone 
canvas-back, with long neck stretched out, comes right 
by them within twenty yards, the sculler shuts his lips 
firmly together. A strong temptation; but he resists it, 
and the canvas-back, unaware of his narrow escape goes 
steadily along. A slight breeze is blowing, the sculler 
takes advantage of it: he knows well that the geese 
will rise against the wind, offering him side shots. Now 
mark ! the scull-boat is within 80 yards of the geese, 
and the utmost skill of the sculler is called into play ; 
his form slides down, down into the bottom of the boat ; 
now he uses but one hand, yet that hand works steadily 
and regularly as a clock ; silently the oar cleaves the 
water, never making a ripple. Nothing can now be 
seen except that silent hand working to and fro, giving 
the lateral and propelling power to the oar. 
