152 GAME SHOAL-WATER FOWL. 



you. The diu-ks will oonio in botwoon us, and 

 as the slough is not (^vor lltty yards wide, we 

 will have some pretty shots. See tliein eoming 

 back already ! Just shoot away now whenever 

 you feel like it, till we get our stands lixed. 

 One down, but a eripple ; you needn't shoot him 

 over. Jaek will get every eripple that falls here, 

 I'll warrant vou. llano; up vour eartridoe-ba<jj on 

 a braneh of the buek-brush, and eut some brush 

 to make your blind thieker. I ean see you 

 through it quite plainly ; and trim otf the tops 

 of the brush in front of you about breast-high, 

 so that you ean shoot over it more easily. 



Mark ! east. Let them go over once while 1 

 call them. Here they come again, right low 

 down. Be careful, now, and don't shoot me ; take 

 the foremost. Hurrah ! Five down. Go on. Jack, 

 and fetch that cripple. Good dog ! The ducks 

 almost always enter this pond from the east, as 

 the trees are much lower on that side ; so when 

 I cry " mark," look to that end, unless I tell you 

 some other direction. Mark again ! Well done ! 

 I guess I will go out now, and stick up these 

 ducks we have killed for decoys ; they will help 

 to quiet any suspicions in the new-comers. These 

 dead ducks make the best of decoys — far better 



