DUCK-SHOOTING. 367 



to open, branching off, in all likelihood, into the 

 comparative qualities of powder and manufactures 

 of guns, the President interposed. ' 



I slipped off and went to bed. Being a compara- 

 tive stranger at the club house, for this was the first 

 year of my membership, I had made it a rule to fol- 

 low the advice and direction of the older habitues, 

 but I wanted to get a chance to try some experi- 

 ments of my own. This would require a little prep- 

 aration for which I needed the early hours before 

 the others should be up. 



As I have said, the members were not at the time 

 of which I am writing in the habit of using de- 

 coys. There was a prejudice against them, their 

 weight in the boat was an admitted disadvantage, 

 which it was claimed was not compensated by any 

 corresponding benefit. My experience in a country 

 where birds were not so plenty, assured me that 

 this was a mistake, but having come to the club 

 house unexpectedly, I had not brought my decoys 

 with me, and had to rely upon such substitutes as 

 could be got up on the spur of the moment. It 

 was with the intention of preparing these that I 

 retired so early. 



In those ancient days of Western civilization, it 

 was the habit not only to put several beds in one 

 room, but often to devote one bed to the accommo- 

 dation of two men, but by being content with a 

 very small apartment, I had succeeded in getting a 

 room all to myself. The bedstead was nothing 

 more than a cot, none too long and by no means 



