CHAPTER NINETEEN WILD GEESE 



linj:^ up the peas in the most wholesale manner. Though 

 the field was small, they managed to feed from one end to 

 the other without coming within sixty yards of me; having 

 got to the end of the field, they turned round, and this time 

 I saw that they would pass within shot. Suddenly they all 

 halted, and I saw that something had alarmed them; I 

 looked cautiously out, and saw, in the direction in which 

 their heads were turned, a large fox sitting upright and 

 looking wistfullyat the geese,but seeming quite aware that 

 he had no chance of getting at them. The morning sun, 

 however, which was just rising, and which, shining on his 

 coat, made it appear perfectly red, warned him that it was 

 time to be off to the woods, and he trotted quietly away, 

 passing myambuscade withinfortyyards, but always keep- 

 ing his head turned towards the geese, as if unwilling to 

 give up all hope of getting one of them. The distant bark 

 of a dog, however, again warned him, and he quickened 

 his pace and was soon out of sight. The geese seemed quite 

 relieved at his departure, and recommenced feeding. I 

 cocked my gun and arranged my ambuscade, so as to be 

 ready for them when they came opposite to me; presently 

 one or two stragglers passed within ten yards; I pulled the 

 dead grass in front of my face, so that they could not see 

 me, and waited for the main flock, who soon came by, feed- 

 ing hurriedly as they passed; when they were opposite to 

 me, 1 threw down part of the clods and grass that conceal- 

 ed me, and fired both barrels at the thickest part of the 

 flock: three fell dead, and two others dropped before the 

 flock had flown many hundred yards. Simon ran from his 

 hiding-place to secure them; one was dead, the other rose 

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