DUCK-SHOOTING. 383 



" You see, I was watching them come closer and 

 closer, and making my calculation to pick out two 

 fine ones. I knew the fellow at the head was an 

 old gander, and tough ; but right behind him came 

 two tender, juicy youngsters altogether the fattest 

 and best in the whole flock. Well, it took me some 

 time to make this selection, and, letting the old one 

 go by, I was just about preparing to knock over the 

 two others right and left and done it I should 

 have, because I intended to, you know. Well, I 

 put up my gun, and was about taking aim, and 

 was waiting for them to get just in the right po- 

 sition for I was as cool as I am this moment ; an 

 old hunter like me is not easily flurried. Well, they 

 were almost ready, and I was on the point of cut- 

 ting them down, when somebody else bad luck to 

 him about a hundred yards off, fired into the 

 flock. Of course they flirted in every direction, 

 and darted about so, that I lost sight of those I 

 selected ; and how could you expect me to kill any 

 others when I had made up my mind to have 

 those? You need not laugh because I missed 

 with both barrels; I wouldn't have missed if the 

 birds had been in their proper places, where I was 

 pointing my gun." 



So it was that we obtained no geese. But the 

 canvas-backs and mallards, in the early morning, 

 made up for the deficiency ; and when, towards mid- 

 day, they ceased flying, some of our party resolved 

 to pole for wood-ducks. 



To do this, as has been heretofore intimated, re- 



