26 VIKINGS OF TO-DAY 



wind, and then in quick succession flock after flock, 

 taking almost all exactly the same line. Near 

 Battle hospital is a barren, rocky point known as 

 " Gunning " Point. Here, under the above circum- 

 stances, you can always find some half - dozen 

 " Livyeres," with long guns and dogs, waiting for the 

 flocks. It is difficult to say whether the dogs or the 

 guns are most remarkable. I measured one gun, six 

 feet two inches long, and when it was discharged it 

 was always an open question which end of it would 

 do most damage, for the adventurous hunter always 

 loaded it " ten fingers " deep. When a flock pass, 

 all the guns are discharged simultaneously, and the 

 ducks, which at times respond in showers, are nomin- 

 ally divided equally. 



But now comes the excitement. As a rule a huge 

 Atlantic surf, with these north-east winds, breaks 

 over the point, and the splendid pluck and endurance 

 of the dogs is taxed to the uttermost. Dashing into 

 the waves, I have seen them repeatedly hurled back, 

 bruised and winded, high on to the ledges of rock, 

 only to be dragged off by the return wave and once 

 more pounded on to the rocks. To avoid this, the 

 brave beasts hold on with the energy of despair, and 

 many times have I noted their bleeding paws, and 

 nails torn off in the unequal struggle. Yet they 

 would at once return to the charge, and, waiting 

 their chance, leap right over the breaking crest, and 

 so get clear of the surf. Once they have seized a 

 duck they never let it go, and I have often felt sorely 



