COOKERY 



To the chilled gunner, ambushed with his shivering 

 retriever at his side, there is no more cheering sound 

 than the swish of the wings of the first of the ducks 

 flighting from the sea to the feeding grounds. As 

 pleasant to the ear is the quack of the mallard when 

 you are stealthily following the course of the 

 meandering stream and sight him with his soberly 

 dressed consort beyond the bend, taking his pleasure 

 among the speckled trout and skimming swallows. 

 Set on sport as you are, it seems pitiful to trouble that 

 scene of domestic felicity; but as these couples with 

 outstretched necks and legs rise skywards in lumber- 

 ing flight before getting into the swing, the barrels go 

 off of themselves. There are heavy thuds as they 

 fall among the sedges. Picking up the drake in the 

 beautiful plumage, which he had been preening so 

 proudly a few moments before, you feel almost as 

 regretful as when you -look in the reproachful eyes 



