276 PRAIRIE AND FOREST. 



sharp work. On gaining the edge of the field and taking 

 a survey, I found the ground in many places perfectly 

 covered with birds, and strings of fresh arrivals coming in 

 momentarily mallard, butter duck, teal and winter duck, 

 all making the best use of their bills to further destroy an 

 indifferent crop. After a survey of the situation I selected 

 a stand, forming a screen of corn stems and iron weed, and 

 scarcely was I ensconced, when the honk ! honk ! honk ! 

 of a distant flock of wild geese told me that the wary 

 scoundrels were en avant. However, so many duck came 

 within easy shooting distance, that I could not resist open- 

 ing fire, and I commenced skirmishing forthwith. The 

 birds appeared totally devoid of fear either of the report 

 of my gun or my presence, and flew frequently within 

 fifteen or twenty yards in the most leisurely and business- 

 like manner. Again and again I loaded and shot till 

 my barrels got agreeably warm. Old Nep, my retriever, 

 soon had the ground around my feet thickly strewn with 

 slain, and when an unfortunate duck less severely peppered 

 than others, or only broken-winged, would attempt to 

 hobble off, Master Nep would give him a pinch about the 

 regions of the cranium that immediately reduced the most 

 obstreperous to submission. Geese commenced to arrive 

 after I had been at work about half an hour ; first a solitary 

 gander, whose coat I dusted and secured, next two or 

 three, and ultimately half-dozens and dozens, while the 

 duck whistled by with all the velocity of sky-rockets. By 

 4 P.M. my powder-flask commenced to show signs of 

 giving out, and with sickly, hollow rattle proclaimed that 

 the remaining charges were few. To prolong the sport I 



