The Wild-Fowlers 1 1 



" The broadbill is a battery bird, I 

 know/' replied the young man, " at least 

 here in the saltwater localities, but out 

 West, where we know them as the blue- 

 bill and blackhead, they are shot at from 

 a point as commonly as redhead, canvas- 

 back, butterball, mallard, pintail, and the 

 other birds; are n't they ? " 



" Quite true, Peritus. I have myself 

 enjoyed the sport, but here, as you say, 

 they are better killed from a battery, and 

 are as seldom taken over a point as the 

 blackduck is bagged from the sink-box. 

 We shall have sport to-day. I like the 

 conditions." 



The two men lighted their pipes and 

 enjoyed the fumes of fragrant plug-cut 

 tobacco, as they conversed in low tones, 

 the older man not for a moment neglect- 

 ing to keep careful watch on all sides. 



Far to the eastern point of the bay, 

 quietly riding on the shallow water's sur- 

 face, like an immense raft of small wood, 

 the eye could plainly discern a great body 



