DRIVING THE BIRDS UP THE PIPE. 31 



after all, certainly not a fox, so they decide to bother their heads no more 

 about him. But — all of a moment, and as soon as their attention to and 

 interest in the dog ceases, they realize that instead of clear sky above them, 

 there is a netting that appears all round like a cage to their perplexed vision. 



No time is to be lost, not a second. They see the open water some 

 dozen yards or more behind them, from which they were allured by their 

 curiosity, as well as by their indignation at that foolish little animal hopping 

 about. 



A trap ! a trap ! is the cry ; they instantly face about to return ; a ie.yf 

 seconds only and they are safe. No such luck — for what is this ? 



Between them and the entrance to the pond stands an awful form, and 

 one that stops the way. 



Death is to them preferable to passing within a few feet of a visible, 

 a mortal danger, and one that every bird and beast shrinks from by in- 

 stinct — " a human being ! " 



Yet there is one fortunate chance left, that is to fly up the pipe ; for, 

 after all, it is but a covered ditch, and to their eyes appears open at its far 

 end. They, poor things ! cannot see round the deceiving bend to where the 

 pipe ends in the tunnel net, for aperture or escape there is none. 



So within a few minutes of their sitting and swimming in safety out- 

 side the pipe, the unfortunate ducks are laid out in a row — dead — the 

 result of a variety of passions, taken a cruel but useful advantage of by 

 their enemy — man ! 



How THE DeCOYMAN DRIVES THE BiRDS UP THE PiPE, BOTH WHEN 



Dogging and Feeding. 



We have seen how the fowl follow the dog or the food up the pipes. 

 As also described, the Decoyman suddenly appears, when the birds have 

 reached a certain distance, and getting between them and the main 

 pond, frightens them towards and into the tunnel net, wherein they are 

 captured. 



Hoiv the Decoyman reaches his station, that is the head shew, at the 

 pipe's mouth without being perceived by the ducks he has lured into the 

 pipe, has yet to be explained. 



