DUCK-SHOOTING CURLY TIIE SETTLER. 249 



when I saw through a gap a number of ducks, swim- 

 ming quietly on the other side of a thick bush ; a fallen 

 tree stretching out into the lake, seemed to offer a good 

 bridge to approach them by. When I got to the end of 

 it, and was about sixty yards from the birds, I raised 

 the heavy old musket to take aim, but knowing how old 

 kill-devil kicked, I leant as far forward as possible, with 

 the firm conviction that the recoil would drive me back 

 on the tree. Three ducks were swimming in a line, 

 and thinking this a good chance, I pulled the trigger, 

 leaning if possible still further forward in the act ; but 

 it only snapped, the expected recoil failed, and I fell 

 head over heels into the lake. I had some trouble in 

 getting back again to the shore, and never saw ducks or 

 musket again." 



The sky seemed to promise a continuance of fine 

 weather, and as there was no prospect at present of 

 Slowtrap's visit to the mountains, I resolved to take a 

 little shooting excursion alone. The shooting on the 

 north of the river was not so good as on the south, us 

 there were fewer settlements ; so I determined to cross 

 over, and try my luck. A young man of the name of 

 Curly lived close to the south bank ; he was certainly 

 strongly suspected of horse-stealing, but in other respects 

 was a good fellow, and a capital sportsman ; his little 

 weakness respecting horse-flesh was a matter of indif- 

 ference to me he could not steal any of mine : so I 

 went to the river and hailed, when he soon brought his 

 canoe and carried me; across. 



lie was easily persuaded to accompany me for a few 

 days, (irst requesting time to prepare, some provisions. 

 He lived in a small block-house close to the river, sur- 



