198 SPORT INDEED 



been deceived by your pair of live honkei^s and yotilf 

 wooden shams. Or again, a flock may be feeding and 

 unconsciously drifting with the inflowing tide towards 

 your box, occasionally giving a quick, suspicious look, 

 swimming back a little, then onward again. But you, 

 too, must be wary. To raise the tip of your hat above 

 the brim of the sand-bank or to get up to stretch 

 yourself is tantamount to a speedy departure of the 

 " mysterious bird of the North." Therefore it is the 

 man who can stand this sort of work the best who is 

 likely to make the biggest bag. A great deal depends 

 upon the wind as well, for if the currents of air 

 should be blowing off shore there is not much chance 

 of successful shooting, as the wind constantly drifts 

 them away from the decoys, while they are feeding ; 

 and if any should be shot and drop down at long 

 range they are apt to get out of reach before they can 

 be retrieved. 



We were seven days on Monomoy Island and had a 

 fierce nor'easter blowing nearly the whole time. 

 What success we were blessed with (thirty-six brant), 

 was due solely to lots of patience and perseverance 

 against hard conditions. 



But the sport compels you to be out in the open air, 

 to inhale the ozone and the ocean breezes — those twin 

 benefactors that bring to the hunter his proverbial 

 appetite. And, oh that appetite ! You have it and a 

 digestion to wait on it that might tackle a peck of 



