WILD SPORTS OF THE HIGHLANDS 



away, and at last fell close to the seashore, where we after- 

 wards found her. Having collected our game, I was not 

 sorry to walk off home in double-quick time to put a little 

 caloric into my limbs, as I felt perfectly benumbed after 

 wadinCT for such a distance in a cold March wind. 



o 



On our way home we saw an immense flock of geese 

 alight to feed on a small field of newly sown peas. Simon 

 was delighted, and promised me a good shot in the morn- 

 ing, if I left him at the nearest farm-house to take his own 

 steps towards ensuring me the chance. 



Accordingly the next morning, at daylight, I went with 

 him to the spot: the geese were still resting on the sands, 

 not having yet made their morning meal. In the very centre 

 of the pea-field Simon had constructed what he called an 

 'ambush'; this was a kind of hut, or rather hole in the ground, 

 just large enough to contain one person, whose chin would 

 be on a level with the field. The ground was rather rough, 

 and he had so disposed the clods of earth that I was quite 

 invisible till the geese came within a yard or two of me. 

 Into this hole he made me worm myself, while he went to 

 a hedge at some distance, for the chance of the birds com- 

 ing over his head after I had fired. The sun was not yet up 

 when I heard the cackle of the geese, and soon afterwards 

 the whole flock came soaring over my head; round and 

 round they flew, getting lower everycircle. I could several 

 times have fired at single birds as they flew close by me, 

 and so well concealed was I with clods of earth, dried grass, 

 etc., that they never suspected my presence in the midst 

 of their breakfast-table. Presently they all alighted at the 

 farthest end of the field from me, and commenced shovel- 



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