The Wild-Fowlers 129 



loaded she had come about and was al- 

 most stationary, with her homely mainsail 

 shaking in the breeze. The dead fowl 

 drifted in the tideway toward the dingy, 

 which Adam propelled away from the 

 sloop a few minutes later, and were gath- 

 ered in by the boy. 



This sort of play was repeated many 

 times during the morning, Seth bagging 

 at least a specimen or two of every species 

 that frequents the bay at this time of year. 

 Broadbill, brant, " coot/' old squaw, and 

 sheldrake all came his way, and when he 

 and his friends sorted the game aboard 

 the sloop they found in the mess, besides 

 the half-dozen broadbill and three brant, 

 a pair of redhead, a single canvasback, 

 and two couple and a half of grayduck. 



" Hunting is the noblest exercise, 

 Makes men laborious, active, wise ; 

 Brings health, and doth the spirits delight. 

 It helps the hearing and the sight ; 

 It teacheth arts that cannot slip 

 The memory, good horsemanship, 

 Search, sharpness and defense, 

 And chaseth all ill habits hence." 



JOHNSON. 



