The Wild-Fowlers 17 



many quite over the blind, and nearly 

 every bird within gunshot and but a foot 

 or two above the water. 



"Steady, boy!" whispered the Doc- 

 tor, disturbed by Peritus's excitement. 

 ' Take the safety off, and be ready ; your 

 bird is coming! There! Here are the 

 blackduck! See them 'light!" and the 

 old man's cheeks glowed with youthful 

 flame and his eyes glared and danced 

 as he nervously patted Peritus on the 

 leg. 



Five couples and a half of beautiful 

 blackduck, their ruddy feathers glistening 

 in the early sunshine, skimmed into the 

 very centre of the flock of imitation fowl, 

 set their wings fully outstretched, lowered 

 their feet, and dipped into the salty bay 

 with the graceful ease of a brood of swans 

 putting out into some mansion pond. 



Other bunches of the same species went 

 on with the great line of birds, and innum- 

 erable brant couples, trios, and half-dozen 

 sets circled about in the air on all sides, 



