PUNT-SHOOTING. 243 



fowl, so, taking Bell with them as a guide and instructor, and 

 with the shooting-punt in tow instead of their own, they set sail 

 for Yarmouth, and sailing up Breydon Water they moored the 

 yacht by the Beruey Arms, a public-house situate where the 

 Yare debouches into Breydon. 



As the night fell they could see and hear wild-fowl of various 

 kinds flying to and settling on the muds. Dick preferred 

 staying on board the yacht, for his frame was not yet so inured 

 to winter cold as it had been to summer heat, and the other 

 two, with Bell, set out in the punt about eight o'clock. They 

 rowed down Breydon Water with the last of the ebb, and then 

 floated and paddled up again as the tide rose. Bell crouched 

 in the stern and worked the two short paddles by which the 

 punt was propelled when approaching the birds. Frank lay 

 in the bows, with the big gun in position in front of him, and 

 Jimmy cuddled up in the middle, armed with Frank's light double- 

 barrel, ready to knock over any of the wounded birds which 

 might try to escape. The night was rather light with the 

 brightness from the stars, which shone resplendently from 

 the deep, dark blue, and in the east the moon lifted a taint 

 curved horn above the trees. 



" There are a lot of birds on that mud-bank ; I can hear them 

 quite plainly," whispered Frank to Bell. 



" Hush ! Don't you speak or fire until I whistle, and then 

 pull the trigger ; but have the gun ready covering the birds. 

 They are too scattered now. Wait until the tide rises a little 

 higher, and covers most part of the bank, and then they will 

 huddle together, when you will kill twice as many." 



They waited for a quarter of an hour, gradually drawing nearer 

 the birds, which were now collected together on a large 

 dark patch on the mud which was still uncovered by the rippling 

 waves. Frank had his eye on them, the gun covering them and 

 his finger on the trigger, waiting breathlessly for the signal. 



A low whistle sounded behind him. A sudden silence took 

 the place of the chattering and gobbling sounds which had 

 before proceeded from the birds. Frank pressed the trigger. 

 The mighty gun flashed forth its deadly contents with a 

 tremendous roar, and Frank found himself hurled back upon 

 Jimmy. He had incautiously put his shoulder to the gun. 

 He was not hurt, however, for the cushion had saved his 

 shoulder. The birds which were unhurt swept away with a 



R 2 



