254 PBAIEIE AND FOREST. 



pine torch blazed up or partially died out as the gale- 

 increased or diminished in violence. After a couple of 

 hours' work the various crafts were deemed safe, and the 

 crowd retired to their respective domiciles, leaving me to- 

 enjoy the grandeur of the scene alone. 



The bustle, confusion, and noise that had previously sur- 

 rounded me, had at the time absorbed all my attention ; 

 now, however, all was still, save the raging of the elements, 

 and above its great voice I could hear one incessant sound, 

 most dear to the sportsman's ear, the hum of innumerable 

 wild-fowl calling to each other. I retired with a light step 

 and happy anticipations, for I looked forward to the 

 morrow as certain to afford me abundant employment for 

 my gun. 



Next morning I was not disappointed, for every bay and 

 inlet was covered with game, even the open water in front 

 of the village, within gun-shot of the shore, and inter- 

 mingled among the fleet of oyster-boats, were numerous 

 flocks of wild-fowl to be seen. Leaving the birds near 

 home for the village juveniles to practise at, I started for 

 a favourite stand, which, with the present wind, was certain 

 to be abundantly frequented. So I found it, and soon had 

 a bag sufficiently large to satisfy the most greedy sports- 

 man. While shooting, the incessant calling of wild swans 

 had attracted my attention, and thus directed by sound, 

 about half-a-mile off, upon the edge of the flow-ice, I 

 could distinguish several flocks of these noble birds, each 

 of them composed of about twenty members. Anxious as 

 I was to obtain a few specimens, I was not sufficiently 

 sanguine to believe that I had the slightest prospect of 



