22 The Wild-Fowlers 



good as any wild meat. There 's some 

 broadbill going southwest, Peritus ; they 

 '11 not come in, but here 's our coot, four 

 of them. See them set their wings and 

 lower their great webbed feet what an 

 easy shot ! That 's the time to take all 

 lighting fowl, boy, just at the moment 

 they flutter down, wings set, and feet 

 outstretched. Any boy or cheap-arm 

 gunner can kill a lighting duck if they '11 

 wait for that particular moment." 



" I believe you, Doctor; I once saw a 

 man kill a sheldrake with a twenty-two 

 rifle ball, firing just as the bird's webs 

 touched the decoy hole, and the shot put 

 the ball clean through the fowl's breast. 

 Captain Emeigh of Bellmore saw this, too, 

 and he will also tell you that it is not im- 

 practicable to shoot duck with a small 

 rifle if the shooter will wait for the light- 

 ing birds. I am " but Peritus finished 

 not his sentence. A bit of spirited pan- 

 tomime by his companion moved him to 

 silence, and the two men got down close 



