112 RAMBLES OF 



opposite side, where they generally spent a few moments 

 in picking up a further supply of gravel, and then, rising 

 in dense and ample column, they sought their habitual 

 roost in the deep entanglements of the distant pines. 

 This daily visit to the point, so near to my dwelling, and 

 so accessible by means of the skiff, led me to hope that 

 I should have considerable success in destroying them. 

 Full of such anticipations, I loaded two guns, and pro- 

 ceeded in my boat to the expected place of action, pre- 

 vious to the arrival of the crows. My view was to have 

 my boat somewhere about half way between the two 

 two shores, and as they never manifested much fear of 

 boats, to take my chance of firing upon the main body 

 as they were flying over my head to the opposite side of 

 the river. Shortly after I had gained my station, the 

 companies began to arrive, and every thing went on as 

 usual. But whether they suspected some mischief from 

 seeing a boat so long stationary in their vicinity, or could 

 see and distinguish the guns in the boat, I am unable to 

 say ; the fact was, however, that when they set out to 

 fly over, they passed at an elevation which secured them 

 from my artillery effectually, although, on ordinary oc- 

 casions, they were in the habit of flying over me at a 

 height of not more than twenty or thirty feet. I return- 

 ed home without having had a shot, but resolved to try 

 if I could not succeed better the next day. The same 

 result followed the experiment, and when I fired at one 

 gang, which it appeared possible to attain, the instant 



