WILD DUCKS. 311 



find any trace of him along the shore, they went to a 

 farm house a few yards from the lake, and on entering 

 that, saw a bearded individual arrayed in an old slouch 

 hat and a woman's calico dress sitting near the fire. 



" Where is the duck, Jem? " asked one, as he stared 

 hard at him. 



"Durn the duck," said the metamorphosed Jem. 

 ''Lost?" 



''I cal'ate she is. I ain't seen her since she went down 

 tlie last time." 



"She must 'a been one o' those enchanted ducks you 

 read about," exclaimed another. 



"How so?" asked a third. 



"Why, don't you see she has turned Jem into an old 

 woman ; all that's left of the Jem Smith we used to know 

 is his old hat. He's now a reg'lar caliker-gownd. I 

 pity his poor wife. That must have been a wicked duck 

 to treat Jem like that. " 



Jem, on hearing this. Jumped up and swore he would 

 shoot the speaker, and as all pretended to be afraid of an 

 enchanted woman, they ran from the house amid roars 

 of laughter and hastened to town to tell of their compan- 

 ion's mishap. The result of that expedition was to wound 

 a duck, to have two of the party catch cold, and to give 

 Jem Smith a name which still clings to him, if he lives. 



