76 EQUIPMENT. 



to make them a trifle suspicious, and to want to 

 circle round and look at it awhile before making 

 up their minds to alight. Though they were 

 coming all the time, X was at first inclined to 

 wait until they came near enough in front of us 

 and over the decoys, the more especially as the 

 blind was small and not easy to turn about in. 

 1 soon gave up this idea as a flock came in, 

 and circling behind us swung in within easy gun- 

 shot, and Joe, who was watching them as they 

 circled, jumped up, and, turning half-way round, 

 killed his pair prettily. " Why didn't you wait 

 until they came round in front, so that we might 

 both have a chance ? " 1 asked. " How did you 

 know," was his Yankee reply, " that they were 

 coming round in front? And even if they were," 

 said he, "a duck killed behind us is as good 

 as one in front; and when they are coming as 

 fast as they are here, it won't do to lose time 

 in waiting. 1 supposed you were ready and 

 watching them when 1 jumped. I gave you 

 the word when I got uj). Never wait," said he, 

 " when they once come within easy killing dis- 

 tance in a situation like this." And this advice 

 I have made it a point to follow, and, I think, 

 much to my own advantage. 



