264 AMERICAK GAME BIRD SHOOTIiq"G. 



the water with a loud thud. Turning round to fire at 

 the other, which had Just passed me on the left, I upset 

 the boat and went diving head foremost into an appar- 

 ently unfathomable mass of reeds and mud. As soon as 

 I had hurriedly examined the oozy bottom, I returned to 

 the surface, but on finding that my gun was gone, I 

 dived for it, recovered it, and again rose to the upper 

 world, but on reaching it, I saw that my craft was float- 

 ing away at a leisurely pace. I swam after it as rapidly 

 as one arm could propel me, and when I overtook it I was 

 nearly fagged out, for my clothing seemed an awful drag, 

 and I could hardly use my legs, my boots being full of 

 water. Scrambling into the stern of the boat, I set about 

 picking up the birds that had been lost out of it, and suc- 

 ceeded in securing all. I tli3n paddled ashore, and hav- 

 ing doffed my dripping garments, I squeezed them as dry 

 as I could, and washed the mud off my hands and face. 

 I then ran a series of go-as-you-please races with imagin- 

 ary contestants, until my blood was warmed up, when I 

 donned my raiment and returned to the house with my 

 trophies. On arriving there, I changed my clothing, 

 and soou felt as comfortable as ever. Sucli incidents 

 teach one that shooting has its shady as well as its bright 

 side, and that he who would enjoy it must learn to pa- 

 tiently bear cold, hunger, and fatigue, and, sometimes, 

 face danger both on land and water. 



