264 DUCK-SHOOTING. 
Our discussion, as was intended on my part, at- 
tracted the attention and interest of all the mem- 
bers, and my opponent waited with a victorious air 
till I should bring him my largest bird. At last, 
after much procrastination, it was produced amid 
such shouts as rarely rang through the old club- 
house. In vain did my Kentucky friend attempt to 
disclaim his acquisition or propose to waive his 
rights; “he would have the bird, and he must take 
him; it was a remarkably fine one of the kind, and 
a good specimen.” At last he burst forth: 
“Oh, get out with your cormorant; take him 
away; do, and I’ll never make another bet with 
you as long as I live.” 
To this day, in that section of the West, a man 
who is too exacting occasionally wins a cormorant. 
The time that circumstances permitted me to de- 
vote to pleasure was drawing to a close, and the 
last morning that was to be appropriated to the 
ducks had arrived, when, as I was about loading 
my boat, Henry stood before me, and with great 
earnestness remarked : 
“T am going to shoot with you to-day, sir.” 
If he had said, “I am going to shoot you,” he 
could not have spoken with more firmness and so- 
lemnity; or, if he had anticipated the most violent 
contradiction, he could not have assumed a more 
convincing manner. The proposal, as it suggested 
an augmented bag for my last day, was, however, 
cordially welcome; and, as soon as he was ready, I 
inquired in an unconcerned manner: 
