A WINTER'S DAY IN THE MARSHES 25 



I was glad to have it, for it was a fine specimen 

 of the Kentish plover, or dotterel a rare bird even 

 here. 



4 Can you live by your gun ? ' I asked. 



' Sometimes ; last winter I did well, though it was 

 by chance like. It come about this way. I had to 

 go to the marshes at the back of the island, Sheerness ; 

 you don't know it, do you ? ' 



' I know it well.' 



'What, the cliffs and the bays? Well, just out 

 from the cliffs, a sort of cloud was movin' about, and 

 then goin' out of sight for a time. Never in my life 

 had I seen such a lot as that ; and by the way they 

 flew I could tell they was black geese.' (Brent geese 

 he meant.) ' Well, I said never a word, but went 

 home and thought about it. Things was lookin' 

 rather glum with me just then, for there was precious 

 little to do. Next mornin' I starts early with my 

 gun and somethin' to eat, and gets there about eight 

 o'clock. You know the place, do you ? ' 



' I know it, a shallow part, covered over with sea 

 grass and weed, and a good nine miles from here.' 



' Ah, that's it ; the geese was well sheltered there, 

 with plenty of food, and they'd gathered from all 

 parts. I brought home three couple that night and 

 sold 'em. Then I bought myself powder and shot 



