PlONEhR HUNTERS OK THE KANKAKEE 

 water called Goose Pond, which bordered on the 

 swamp timber line. After supper I set my bar- 

 rel house blind and had all made ready for the 

 morrow. I lay down on a marsh hay bed to 

 dream of the long line of quacking ducks com- 

 ing to the decoys. I was up early the following 

 morning. Placing a dozen wood decoys in a 

 basket with my powder flask and shot pouch 

 and with my No. 10 double barrel muzzle loader 

 on my shoulder I departed for the blind which I 

 reached before sunrise. In going through the 

 marsh to the blind I ran across the remains of 

 an old blind that had been used the year before 

 with a stake driven in the ground and a half cir- 

 cle board. Part of the head of a nail keg was 

 nailed on the stake still standing. With my 

 hatchet I cut the stake off at the water's edge 

 and put it in my barrel house blind, It fitted 

 nicely and made a good seat. I placed the de- 

 coys about twenty yards in front of the blind. 

 Stepping inside the barrel I picked up my old 

 fowling piece, placing caps on the tubs, snapped 



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