98 HUNTING TRIPS 



first, and skitter along the surface for a few 

 feet before settling down. Lying in our 

 blankets we could plainly hear all the mo- 

 tions: first of all, the whistle whistle of 

 their wings ; then a long-drawn splash-h-h 

 plump; and then a low, conversational 

 quacking. It was too dark to shoot, but we 

 got up and ready, and strolled down along 

 the brink of the river opposite where we 

 could hear them; and as soon as we could 

 see we gave them four barrels and picked up 

 half a dozen scaup-ducks. Breakfast was 

 not yet ready, and we took a turn out on the 

 prairie before coming back tQ the wagon. In 

 a small pool, down in a hollow, were a couple 

 of little dipper ducks or buffie-heads ; they 

 rose slowly against the wind, and offered 

 such fair marks that it was out of the ques- 

 tion to miss them. 



The evening before we had lain among 

 the reeds near a marshy lake and had killed 

 quite a number of ducks, mostly widgeon 

 and teal; and this morning we intended to 

 try shooting among the cornfields. By sun- 



