3500 WILD FOWL SHOOTING. 
other, as we often see mallards, blue-bills, or pin-tails 
do when coming down vertically from a great height to 
wight among their kind. They were fully 100 yards 
behind us. Lying on the flat of our backs we could 
not see very well, and dared not move. George bent 
back his head and watched them through a peep-hole 
in his eyebrows ; while I could indistinctly see them 
by looking cross-eyed over the end of my nose. On 
they came with set wings, right over us. We let them 
pass by : they were only about 30 yards above and from 
us. Quickly arising to a sitting position, we let drive, 
George at the left wing of the flock, I at the right, and 
down came four, each making a double. George turned 
to me, never cracking a smile, and said “Shake.” I 
put on a serio-comic look, accepted his proffered hand, 
and looking him straight in the face remarked that it 
was a “ beautiful day.” ‘+ Very” replied he, and then 
le burst out into a loud laugh. There is a quiet satis- 
faction that can only be known, and must have been ex- 
perienced, to enjoy, when two hunters both make 
‘doubles.’ Nothing may be said at the time, perhaps 
not at all, but they both appreciate it just the same. 
A large flock coming toward us quickly turned off, 
as if in fright. The cause was clear, a young man was 
approaching us in the exposed field. Walking directly 
up to us, he commenced to talk, and his first words dis- 
closed his misfortune,—an impediment in his speech. 
Said he, “ I-yi-yi thu-thu-ought I-yi-yi wou-wu-would 
cu-cu-cu-ome 0-0-over.” 
“You are welcome, young man,” replied George. 
“but don’t you see we are in a blind, and geese coming 
all the time? They will see you. If we can do any- 
thing for you, we will gladly do so, but let us know 
at once, and then move quickly.” 
