THE CANADA GOOSE 



103 



to and fro along the estuary which the bay sends for many miles 

 among the wooded hills to welcome its waters. 



In the autumn, when the sportsman visits these scenes, he 

 rejoices in the delicious light and air. The summer fogs are 

 over, the atmosphere has grown transparent, the breeze, laden 

 with ozone, is clear and bracing. An occasional bath of storm 

 freshens the face of Nature. He will love to think afterwards of 

 serene sunny mornings on the sands ; also of raw and gusty days, 

 when waves of sombre hue dashed on the shore, while the shrill 

 piping of the plover, the loud challenging of restless geese added an 

 indescribable charm of wildness and desolateness, when combined 



AN IMMENSE SHALLOW BAY FISHERMEN WITH HARPOONED ALBICORE 

 IN THE FOREGROUND. 



with the roar of the resounding sea. What keen delight it was 

 to make a heap of slain victims, kindle a pile of driftwood, and 

 listen to John's yarns while the kettle sang its familiar song and the 

 air grew fragrant with the steaming tea ! What enthralling music 

 was the cheery calling of new flocks of geese, arriving at a vast 

 altitude, from the wintry, mysterious, distant North, while they 

 wheeled to reconnoitre, hailing their well-fed comrades with unmis- 

 takable gladness ! They were like wearied travellers, tried and 

 hungry, sighting a well-known inn where they intended to take 

 their ease. 



To be ready for the flight that is always stirring at the first 



