THE FIKTH OF FORTH. 19 



nel, and of course out of reach, showed that the 

 fishermen had succeeded in their task. The main 

 body soon followed this advanced-guard. They 

 simultaneously took wing, but soon separated into 

 three groups. Two of these kept the island side, 

 but the third flew straight for my rock. With 

 eager heart and ready weapon I waited until they 

 skimmed overhead, a quick but fair chance. A 

 female eider dropped on the water to my shot, but 

 seeing she was only winged, I was taking aim with 

 my second barrel when she dived, and did not rise 

 again within range. 



Bang ! bang ! from the islet. My telescope was 

 instantly fixed on my son. He was wading into 

 the sea, where I distinctly saw him pick up a dead 

 bird. Our boatmen, who had been straining hard, 

 now pulled up to my stance, and at the same time 

 my son was making signs to me in a certain direc- 

 tion, so, instead of pursuing my winged duck, we 

 obeyed his signal, and soon spied a solitary bird, 

 which proved a female eider. Upon nearing her 

 she dived, but being hard hit in the body, soon 

 came to the surface again, when we made her safe 

 by a shot. 



