162 GAME SHOAL-WATER FOWL. 



of any ducks, unless it be the few that happen 

 to come within range. Let me impress this on 

 your mind : Keep your eyes open. 



Mark ! A pretty flock. Now see if you can't 

 get two the first barrel. I'll wait for you. 

 Bravo! One is crippled, but that is no discredit. 

 A man can hardly be expected to kill more than 

 one " clean " at a time. That is another trick 

 whereby the skilful hunter makes the most of 

 his opportunities ; but you needn't try it too 

 often at first. It is better for the novice to con- 

 tent himself with one bird at a shot. He will 

 do better, and his shooting will improve faster. 

 By trying to get two he often fails to get any. 

 When you have had more experience, you can 

 watch for them to cross, and be ready to avail 

 yourself of those chances. 



It will be tedious to the reader to particular- 

 ize the shooting further. Suffice it to say, after 

 a couple of hours more of the choicest sport, we 

 gather up our game, seventy-two head in all, 

 making a total for the day of one hundred and 

 twenty-five, buckle it in the game-straps, and start 

 for the boat, which we reach without noteworthy 

 incident. It being nearly sundown, we decide not 



