233 AMERICAN GAME BIRD SHOOTING. 



at the romantic hour of half past four o'clock on a cold No- 

 vember morning, and waited anxiously for daylight, as we 

 could hear the occasional creeaunk of some sturdy gander, 

 or the trumpet blast of a swan — sounds which caused our 

 blood to tingle and our hands to involuntarily grasp the 

 guns. After waiting an hour or more without getting a 

 shot we commenced running up and down in order to 

 warm our blood, and imprecating the natatores that would 

 not oblige us by coming near enough to be killed. While 

 we were anxiously waiting for the birds to approach us, 

 we heard the shrill whistle of a steamer, which was loudly 

 echoed by the woods and mountains, and on turning round 

 we saw the white form of the craft some distance down the 

 river. We were anything but pleased at its appearance, 

 as we thought it would send the birds bedded on the 

 river inland, but, instead of that, its scream caused them 

 to rise en 7nasse, and to come towards us with a rush 

 that augured well for sport. On they came towards 

 the island with as much confidence as if they had 

 no foe on earth. The swans being arranged in a queue, I 

 aimed at the head of the first when it was about twenty 

 yards away, and brought it down with a heavy charge of 

 No. 1 shot, and before the others could turn about, I 

 bagged the second, and scared the remainder so badly 

 that they began to blow their trumpets as they hastened 

 away. I picked up the dead birds with the aid of a boat, 

 and having placed them at the foot of a miniature cot- 

 ton-wood tree, I gave my companion a look of mingled 

 triumph and contempt tliat would have Avithered another 

 man, but he seemed to be indifferent to it, and merely 

 said : — 



"Sho; I wouldn't have fired at the swans with a shot- 

 gun at that distance. Now, if you had hit them in the 

 eye with a rifle, you might call it passable shooting." 

 "How could I see their eyes at that distance?" 

 " I could; 1 saw one wink back at the other when you 



