276 THE GUN: AFIELD AND AFLOAT 



just perhaps when serious thoughts of giving it up for 

 that night were entertained, there would be borne upon 

 one's ears some of the most inspiriting music the fowler 

 can listen to the harmonious chorus of a big gaggle of 

 pink-footed geese. Then for a time there is alternation 

 betwixt doubt and assurance as the sound rises and 

 falls on the breeze, till at length all fears are allayed, 

 the clear ringing cries of the geese wake up the sleeping 

 echoes of that dreary waste, and a black mass of birds 

 is seen swiftly oncoming. 



Brent geese, as most wild-fowlers know full well, are 

 exceptionally wide-awake fowl. So much so, in fact, 

 that in mild weather it is well-nigh impossible either to 

 stalk them with punt and big gun or to sail a ' boat 

 within gun-shot of any respectable gathering of these 

 wary fowl. Now and again, however, some of the 

 smaller gaggles may be out- manoeuvred, and occasion- 

 ally it happens when sailing quickly up to geese on their 

 seaward side that they refuse to be driven nearer to 

 land, and, in consequence, some of the laggards cross 

 the bows of the vessel at fair range, or offer, it may be, 

 a longish shot as they break back and pass alongside 

 on their way out to sea. Then is the gunner's oppor- 

 tunity, and one of the prettiest sights I know, in a 

 sporting way, is to see brent geese neatly and cleanly 

 stopped on these occasions with punt- or heavy shoulder- 

 gun. When well on the wing these birds move fast ; 

 and to make a successful long shot at a single bird or 

 a couple of geese under these conditions at once stamps 

 the sportsman as no mean performer with the gun. 

 Most of the shots so obtained are at 80 yards and over ; 

 and when it is remembered that the deck of a small 

 sailing-boat, pitching on the waves, is not the steadiest 



