LIVE DECOYS. 531 



Softly, one after another of the flyers is lifted from 

 the coop, and sent sailing out over the line of ducks, 

 which reply in a deafening chorus. Some of them 

 waddle back to the expected corn, and are again scaled. 



The small ducks, buffleheads they are, have ap- 

 proached to within 15 yards of the beach, and are rest- 

 ing in a little knot, their heads tucked under their 

 feathers. It would be easy to kill all three with one 

 barrel, but we must wait. 



The big bunch have made up their minds, and slow- 

 ly, ever so slowly, they begin to push toward us. You 

 would scarcely believe they were moving, but every 

 time you look they are a bit closer. Unless the un- 

 foreseen occurs, as it sometimes does, we are pretty 

 certain of a fine shot. 



They have reached a bunch of block decoys and stop, 

 puzzled for a moment. Quickly hand me that little 

 drake. See! he has done the work, and watch how 

 eagerly they follow him, as he swims toward the beach. 



Take the lo-gauge, and be very careful you do not 

 show yourself. I will count three, and we must shoot 

 together at exactly the same moment. Let them get 

 as near as we want them; about 25 yards will be the 

 most effective range for the open barrels of our big 

 guns. I see you would pull now if I were not here to 

 stop you, but above all things don't get excited or we 

 are sure to make a mess of things. 



One, two — hold ! They have spread again, and we 

 must wait for a better chance. One, two, three — we 

 pull well together, and a deafening roar, a great splash- 



