The Wild-Fowlers 23 



and with excited eyes watched the ap- 

 proach of a bunch of ten blackduck that 

 were coming head-on fully a half-mile 

 away. 



" If they cross, Peritus, take you the 

 last bird, as they will pass you first and 

 come to me last ; that is the rule, boy. If 

 they attempt to 'light, pick the spreading 

 bird on your side, and then, as they go 

 away, take any bird you like. Fire not 

 at the bunch that 's the cockney's prac- 

 tice, and it always fails. Pick your birds 

 in all cases." 



On came the great fowl winging but 

 five feet above the water's surface, and, 

 instead of coming head-on or attempting 

 to cross, the entire bunch sailed around 

 to the south a hundred yards out from 

 the decoys, and, coming up against the 

 mild wind, set their wings and dove down 

 into the very centre of the decoy fleet, 

 coming from the Doctor's side. It was, 

 therefore, Peritus's first shot, and he took 

 it at the leader bird, doubling up that 



