246 RAMBLES ABOUT HOME. 



don't see a widgeon do the same thing. They'll pitch 

 for some dead stuff, hay or rubbish, more their own 

 color." 



" But ducks don't always have these chances," I pro- 

 tested, "and when there's nothing but water they've only 

 an even chance." 



" That's very true when we're talking about the river, 

 or some big lake; but I'm talkin' of ducks on these 

 meadows. For something like fifty years I've shot over 

 this tract, and don't know about any other but by hear- 

 say ; but if you want to know what I think of our meadow 

 ducks, I'll tell you." 



" Well, Uz, I won't interrupt again, and I do want to 

 hear all you've a mind to tell me." 



"Take 'em for all in all," Uz continued, "the sprig- 

 tail is the shyest duck we have, and I've been outwitted 

 more by them than any other duck ; but, dear me ! there 

 ain't the ducks now there was when I was a young man. 

 I've seen a thousand at a glance on the lower meadows. 

 Well, as to the sprig-tails, the last time I had a chance at 

 a flock of 'em, worth speakin' of, was nigh on to ten years 

 ago. A good fall fresh' covered all the meadows, except 

 the high knolls, and I went down toward the Swan Island 

 flood-gates on Cross wicks Creek. Not a duck came near 

 the stools for well onto an hour, and I'd a mind to go 

 somewhere else, when I happen to see a bunch of teal 

 makin' right for me. I crouched down, and they came 

 in easy shot, and I blazed away. Fetched three and crip- 

 pled another, and then, what the snakes should jump up, 

 but a great swad of sprig-tails right back of me ! They'd 

 actually been walkin' about in the high grass back of me, 

 and I believe calculated their chances and knew I'd 

 be lookin' for ducks on the water, and not high and dry 

 on the knolls. I'd a good notion of sprig-tails' cunnin' 



