228 DUCK-SHOOTING. 
as they crowd together or separate, as they swing 
first one flank of their array forward, then the 
other; as they draw nearer and nearer, breathlessly 
to wait the proper time, and, with quick eye and 
sure aim, select a pair, or perhaps more, with each 
barrel. It is still more glorious to see them fall— 
doubled up if killed dead, turning over and over 
if shot in the head, and slanting down if only 
wounded, driving up the spray in mimic fountains 
as they strike; and glorious, too, the chase after 
the wounded—with straining muscles to follow his 
rapid wake, and, when he dives, catching the first 
glimpse of his reappearance to plant the shot from 
an extra gun in a vital spot. Glorious to survey 
the prizes, glorious to think over and relate the suc- 
cessful event, and glorious to listen to the tales of 
others. | 
Sad, however, is it when the flock turns off and 
pushes far out to the open water; sadder still when 
the aim is not true and the bird goes by uninjured ; 
sad when the chase is unsuccessful and the weeds 
hide the prey, or he dives to grasp a root and never 
reappears; and saddest of all to fall overboard out 
of your frail bark—a fate that sooner or later awaits 
every one that shoots ducks from little boats. 
Thad had all these experiences except the last, 
and almost that—when pushing through the weeds, 
my friend appeared, attracted by my rapid firing, 
and after comparing our respective counts, ensconc. 
ed himself in one of the points “opposite me on the 
channel. By this plan all birds that came between 
