DUCK-SHOOTING. 223 
of our breakfast and prepared for the start. Hav- 
ing selected our boats and arranged them on the 
wharf, we stowed our guns, ammunition-boxes, over- 
clothes, afew decoys, and such other articles as fancy 
suggested; and then taking two little tin pails, we 
put a nice lunch of cold duck, steak, bread, pickles, 
eake, and fruit in one, and into the other water with 
a large lump of ice bobbing around in the centre; 
and thus equipped, each man slid his boat down the 
inclined wharf, and shipping his oars, pulled for his 
favorite location. 
My friend and myself joined forces, and made our 
first pause at a little bunch of wild rice not far from 
the house, called Fort Ossawatomie. Decoys are 
not generally used in this region, as they cannot be 
seen from any considerable distance by the birds on 
account of the reeds; but my friend had left his at 
this place over night, and they were still “‘ bobbing 
around ”’—pretending to swim and looking deceit- 
fully innocent—when we ensconced ourselves among 
the reeds near by, crowding down into the bottom 
of our boats well out of view. 
Several flocks were seen hovering over the hori- 
zon, or moving along in the distance, scarcely discer- 
nible against the morning clouds ; and although occa- 
sionally they bade fair to approach, our hopes were 
destined to disappointment, till a single bird turned 
and headed directly towards us. When a bird is 
approaching head on, it is almost impossible to tell 
whether he is not going directly from you; and at 
times, except for his growing plainer every moment, 
