56 “COME DUCK SHOOTING WITH ME” 
in it and crushed it into a round loose ball. I could see 
their heads turn, as attracted by my call, they looked 
at the decoys. Hoping they would think it a stray 
wandering snow goose, I tossed my newspaper ball high 
in air. 
My scheme worked finely. The paper ball fell in 
the water and glided smoothly along before the wind. 
I did not dare to call again. I had done all I could do. 
The curtain was up, the scene set. Would the actors 
do their part? Then my heart gave a big beat, I could 
feel my fingers tremble. The geese had turned, they 
were coming straight for the sink box. They intended 
looking into the matter and see who the wandering 
brother that was paddling around in the water might 
be. 
I was kneeling on one knee in about twelve inches 
of water and could feel its cold touch as it trickled down 
inside my rubber boot, but I did not dare move. Once 
headed for the sink box, the geese came on as stately 
as soldiers on parade, only there was a lot more talking 
in the ranks. 
It was a beautiful sight as the birds, looking in every 
direction, trying to find their comrade, came over me. 
They appeared thirty yards away, but probably were 
fifty when I rose to fire. Geese are so large they always 
look closer then they really are. 
It was more than likely that the leader of the geese 
would be a venerable ancient, so I fired at the next in 
line. The goose drifted gently down in the same at- 
titude as when shot, with wings and neck extended, 
striking the water with a little splash. Then his head 
dropped almost immediately and he lay still. At the 
second shot, the third bird in line crumpled up and 
came down with the regulation smash. My third 
