34 The Wild-Fowlers 



fact is, Seth, we, too, are against spring 

 shooting, and we want you to post up a 

 bit on it and then join us in a stampede 

 against the practice. The law is wrong 

 in permitting duck shooting after the au- 

 tumn and midwinter seasons. As for bat- 

 tery shooting, you may be right about its 

 being too destructive, but the Doctor and 

 I have not been in the sink-box often 

 enough to either deny or affirm this state- 

 ment. You join us in this trip, and we '11 

 abide by your decision. We need n't 

 kill a greedy mess just a couple or two, 

 and have a good general outing. I give 

 you my word this will be the farewell 

 spring trip; no shooting beyond that 

 which the autumn and midwinter seasons 

 allow after this, and never again at any 

 time in the battery, if you decide against 

 it after you 've judged the practice from 

 actual experience." 



" Well, this is very flattering to me, 

 Doctor, and I 'm ' 



" Think of the time we '11 have in that 



