POINT SHOOTING. Z79 



from their reedy resting places. Now and then, as we 

 passed close to some point of land, the boat's way was 

 checked for a moment as the tall growth of canes cut 

 off the wind and the vessel resumed an even keel, while 

 the sail for a moment shook in the still air. Again, 

 when the point was passed and the breeze was felt once 

 more, the skiff heeled over and darted forward like a 

 good horse touched with the spur. 



Already the sky was beginning to grow light in the 

 east when we heard before us the clear, trumpet-like 

 calls of geese talking to one another, and a moment 

 later the louder tones and the splashing of water, which 

 warned us that the birds had taken wing. In an in- 

 stant the air resounded with their clamor, and now we 

 could see them against the sky before, above us and on 

 either hand — some of them almost within oar's length 

 of us. 



Still the guns remained in their cases and still I 

 smoked my pipe, while John still tended sheet and tiller, 

 for the law of North Carolina provides that birds shall 

 not be shot except after sunrise and before sunset, and 

 we respect the law. 



Soon the geese are gone, and now we can see against 

 the sky long lines and wedges of canvas-backs and red- 

 heads winging their flight north or south to the feeding 

 grounds which please them best, while through the 

 quivering air falls the ringing whistle of a thousand 

 wings. 



Such are the sights and such the sounds that meet us 

 under the breaking day as we cross the sound and enter 



