OUTDOORS 



" whish " as it slides along the fingers and 

 thumb of the left hand. It strikes the water 

 with a sound like " chuck," transfixing the 

 frog's body, and is then brought back quickly 

 by the left and right hands until the frog is 

 just over the box in the boat. A swift stroke 

 of the knife and the " saddle " is severed 

 and is in the box. The hunter may have seen 

 two or three frogs quite close together, and 

 if he is an adept with the spear he will har- 

 vest them all, one after another, without their 

 taking alarm. The best of tools and the 

 lightest of boats is required, and the hunter 

 must have had years of experience to be able 

 to handle the long, light spear with accuracy 

 and comparative silence. Splashing will spoil 

 everything. Frogs are not speared excepting 

 while they are in the water, and a skilful 

 hunter can pick up five or six dozen frogs in 

 a day easily when they are at all numerous. 



Skill with the spear and paddle and a 

 knowledge where the best places are for the 

 game are the requisites for success. A 

 " cracker jack " with the spear will get a frog 

 ninety-nine times out of a hundred. The 

 frogs lie about in the very shallow water, and 

 174 



