The Wild-Fowlers 175 



their battery, and they had their share of 

 sport, though little came to bag. 



" By my true soul, I was too cold to 

 shoot well/' said Corbin. 



" My head was n't high enough for me 

 to see the birds," pleaded Bradley. 



And they all sat down and did full jus- 

 tice to a hot supper of steaming biscuits, 

 bacon, and bay food, after which, while 

 the sportsmen smoked their favorite 

 cigars, little Adam cleared away the 

 dishes and his father got out the blankets 

 and shooting coats and spread them for 

 the night's repose. This done, the bay- 

 man and his boy went forward into the 

 decoy hole and made their bed of hay and 

 tarpaulins, and the pleasant excitement 

 and natural exercise throughout the day 

 fully telling upon the five good spirits 

 very soon every soul aboard the sturdy 

 Coot was soundly and snugly housed in 

 dreamland. 



THE END 



