256 PEAIKIE AND FOBEST. 



would have been as wet as a well-saturated sponge, but 

 frost had placed its iron hand upon the moisture, and 

 rendered the use of my waterproof sheet almost super- 

 fluous, a circumstance that advantageously contrasted with 

 what it might have been. About mid-day, certainly not 

 later, it became apparent that some important change was 

 about to take place among the swans, for their voices 

 became louder and more frequent, and the before- scattered 

 groups concentrated themselves into closely-packed coteries. 

 This I noted, and thought it foretold change in the 

 iveather ; my surmises soon proved correct, for the north wind 

 which had subsided into a calm, was soon after replaced by 

 a southerly breeze, whose influence I had scarcely felt 

 when the swans in succession stretched their wings, and, 

 with heavy measured stroke, raised themselves in the air, 

 first circling round in gradually increasing circles ; ulti- 

 mately, with outstretched neck, shaping their course right 

 over my ambuscade. The moments of suspense, though 

 few, were sufficient to make the heart beat faster ; but my 

 hopes were not disappointed or long delayed. At length I 

 could see distinctly the eye of the leader, then of the 

 followers ; next moment I was on my knees, and with each 

 barrel killed a bird. 



With intervals of ten or twelve minutes, a second and 

 third flock came within range, and were treated similarly; 

 but here I ceased, for I had enough, and to spare ; had I 

 desired, I could, without doubt, have killed three times the 

 number. 



Although it be two years since the events above narrated 

 occurred, the impression on my memory is so distinct and 



