198 THE SWAN AND HER CREW. 



stems are bowing with the weight of the ears and are ready for 

 the scythe, from a meadow which slopes down to the marsh 

 and the broad. 



Frank and Jimmy both have their guns, and Dick has been 

 sent to the other side of the field with an old pistol, which he 

 has been charged to let off. 



" Cock your gun, Dick is raising his pistol," said Frank. 



A puff of smoke from out the shadow of the hedge, and a 

 few seconds after, a report, show that Dick has fulfilled his 

 mission ; and as the report reaches them, first come a number 

 of wild-pigeons, which fly past with whistling wings. Jimmy 

 fires and brings one to the ground. Frank has reserved his 



SUSPENDED LEAF-TENTS. 



fire, and wisely, for with slow and heavy flight come four wild 

 ducks right towards the tree. Frank gets two of them in a 

 line and fires his first barrel. Two of them fall, and with his 

 second barrel he wings another, which Jimmy despatches. 



" Come back to the tree, Dick," shouted Frank, and Dick 

 came back. " Now if we wait here a little while, the wild- 

 pigeons will come back, and some more ducks may come from 

 the marsh." And so, having loaded their guns, they laid them 

 in a hollow and made themselves comfortable, and began to 

 chat. 



" Did you ever notice how much insect-life there is in an 



