THE CANADA GOOSE 253 



good gray Goose, for, high up, safe from all 

 harm from human foe, their swift-moving 

 wedges keep steadily northward over city and 

 farmland, forest, lake, plain and open sea. 

 Anon comes down the distant clamor of the 

 flock — the wily old leader as he calls to the lag- 

 gards, perhaps encouraging them with the 

 praises of the region whither they are bound, 

 that the weary followers may keep up good 

 heart, for there are some who fain would rest 

 their wings and make a brief halt on the water 

 below. But not so the old gander. He remem- 

 bers vividly the dangers of that treacherous 

 place, for not yet has the calamity of last fall 's 

 flight passed from his memory, — when the tired 

 youngsters were allowed to settle upon its 

 waters for rest. He knows full well what was 

 their rest! 



Far below in city street or muddy country 

 road the sportsman stands up-gazing and fol- 

 lowing them with longing eyes until the last 

 faint "honk" has died away and the flock has 

 become but a speck against the dark mass of 

 the northern cloud-bank. For the rest of the 

 day that man's mind is scarcely to be kept on 

 the ledger or the farm's business, and ten to 



