SEAFOWL SHOOTING SKETCHES. 21 



SEAFOWL SHOOTING ON THE KIBBLE (1882). 



A couple of days before the " first " Renshaw turned up again, 

 and, having" determined to posses a craft of his own, the next 

 day purchased a large open boat about 24ft. long, intending 

 .going down in her, but as it rained very hard we transferred 

 all our tackle aboard our friend Buckley's decked boat the 

 "Dart" 



After supper we went clown to embark for the morning tide. 

 Previous to going aboard, we liquored up with a lot of acquaint- 

 ances bound on a similar errand to ourselves, and as it was 

 raining very hard indeed, our stay at the inn was somewhat pro- 

 tracted. On leaving R. had secured half-a-dozen bottles of beer, 

 l>ut missed two before we got on the boat. Our companions had 

 abstracted them, and when the empty bottles were found, with 

 their necks knocked off, there was a good bit of chaff, mixed 

 with some grumbling, on the subject. 



We had engaged a man to help us, and, having lighted a fire in 

 the boat's cabin, endeavoured to go to sleep. This, however, 

 was impossible, as the rain dripped through the cabin top, wetting- 

 our berths, and, in addition, we were tormented by a couple of 

 fellows from a neighbouriing boat, who twice pulled across rn 

 their punt, notwithstanding the heavy rain, to beg a drink of 

 whisky. Before the second visit was ended we hid our bottle, 

 and thus got rid of our visitors. 



For some time we had a little peace, and sat smoking our 

 pipes and drying our garments. Then it began to blow hard, 

 and we were pitched about most unmercifully, and the rain, wind, 

 and tide caused the river to rise so high that twice we had to 

 turn out and shove the bowsprit off the quay wall, lest it should 

 get snapped off when the water dropped. The canoe, which 

 was secured astern, occasionally made the most frantic efforts 

 to come aboard, as if attracted by the bright fire and apparent 

 comfort. We kept pushing her off, but it was exactly like thrust- 

 ing a dog away when it is determined to get on your knees. 



At half -past two a.m. we got up the sails with a couple of reefs 

 in, and made a start against a strong head wind, but as the boat 

 was short of ballast, she refused to obey her helm when we en- 

 deavoured to come about, and on each occasion ran into the 

 wall. We, therefore, gave it up, and turned in again, and then 

 managed to get a little sleep. 



When day broke the wind and water had both dropped consider- 

 ably, and I stood in the cockpit loaded and ready. Presently a 



