270 DUCK SHOOTING. 



like a lake of silver, and I thought it well named. The 

 geese decoys had settled for the night, with only now 

 and then the low growl of an old gander, which would 

 be quickly answered by one of his goslings on the hill. 

 The faint hoot of an owl comes to me from the eastern 

 side of the lake, while from the southern end I hear 

 the quick quack-quack of some ducks which have just 

 lit. Then the soft call of the decoys at the new stand 

 comes to me from afar off and startles me from my 

 dreams, causing me to stir up the decoys and almost 

 sending me in to wake the boys before I knew what it 

 was. As I get over my excitement and find that my 

 heart is not in my mouth, I hear the boom of a volley of 

 guns at Oldham Pond; then in a short time another, 

 and right upon it three reports from the new stand. I 

 go into the air about a foot, and see Oliver, and Herb 

 close at his heels, bareheaded and hair standing on end. 

 "Great Scott ! Have the British landed ?" from Oliver, 

 while Herb is saying: "What's the matter, Fred; are 

 you tfying to blow us up ?" I explain matters, and as it 

 is after 3 o'clock we decide to turn in and let the lake 

 take care of itself. Nothing thus far. But our time is 

 coming. 



In the morning about 8 o'clock George said : "I am 

 looking for a large flock of geese to-day." He had 

 gone to feed the decoys, when Gene said : "There are 

 geese." We pressed the button, and in a minute all 

 were in the stand. "There they are," said George. "I 

 never saw so large a flock before." As they came out 

 over the lake the new stand let out their flyers ; then 



