The Wild-Fowlers 5 



be longer now, and 'cause thar beant no 

 'vantage nohow in a-goin' earlier/' re- 

 plied the Captain. ' We mote es well 'a* 

 sailed in th' night, genelmen, had yer 

 wished it, though; I allus do it in th' 

 summer an' when I go out with th' bat- 

 tery." 



" Ah, boy, you must stand the cold," 

 said Bradley ; "the sport pays for it. This 

 is the great season for birds, though the 

 tyro finds more comfort in gunning at a 

 less hardy period October and early No- 

 vember. But our weather-beaten baymen 

 and their experienced patrons will agree 

 that the birds are more plentiful and bet- 

 ter-conditioned in midwinter, so long as 

 the great lagoon is not frozen over. Am 

 I not correct, Captain ?" 



" Kerrect yer be, Doctor Bradley." 

 " Now, Peritus," continued the Doc- 

 tor, "I '11 play skipper, while you and 

 Captain Grieb prepare the breakfast, and 

 don't be afraid of the coffee, Captain. 

 Give us plenty of it. You baymen know 



