12 The Wild-Fowlers 



of ducks, mostly broadbill and " coot" 

 (scoter), with one or two small bunches 

 of blackduck riding a short distance 

 from the other fowl, and at least twenty 

 brent geese (" brant ") skirting the great 

 flock to the north; and a half-mile this 

 side of the water flock, Captain Grieb's 

 sloop loomed up plainly as the old craft 

 made to the south of the birds, the Cap- 

 tain intending to disturb the fowl and 

 drive them within range of the two gun- 

 ners. 



The sun had not risen, but the eastern 

 heavens began to take on that reddish- 

 golden hue, and a smarter breeze, now 

 breaking out, cleared away the clouds of 

 mist that had hung over the great body 

 of water. Soon huge bars of warm sun- 

 light shot up in the sky directly in front 

 of our sportsmen's point, and all that re- 

 mained of the dull gray of early morn was 

 slowly fading in the far west. 



" That big flock will get up now, Peri- 

 tus," said the Doctor, bending over lower 



