104 DAYS STOLEN FOR SPORT 



others, do a little business and inspect each other's 

 cattle ; so it sometimes happens that in going 

 forward they have got " forarder " and ripe to 

 down the duck, no matter the distance or direction. 



The farmers were having a grand time ; the 

 duck were plentiful and strangely tame and every 

 bird that rose called forth a volley from hidden 

 marksmen, some of whom fired late as if in glee- 

 some response to the resounding cracks of their 

 neighbours' guns. Drippings from the trees above 

 had long since ceased so there could be no mistake 

 that what was dropping from them were shots 

 that had come across the water, and one of these 

 planted in an eye would be very painful. 



The disappointing way in which the birds flew 

 annoyed me until I was quite put out and asked 

 for explanation. 



"Tell me, keeper, why don't your duck mount 

 and clear off instead of making flights a moorhen 

 would be ashamed of?" 



" Well, sir, you see, they are a pinion short ; we 

 cuts the first joint from one of their wings when 

 they are young." 



The matter thus explained I had to move. Keen 

 as I am at most kinds of sport I sicken in a moment 

 at others. What more glorious than a frosty morn- 

 ing's tramp round rushy swamps where at any 

 moment the dogs may give you a chance at duck ; 

 and how happy one can be during a long forenoon, 

 without having had a shot, though as keen as 

 Nature intended us to be to put something in the 

 larder ! But how can there be pleasure in a sport 

 where the animal has no chance ? 



We started to try the smaller water, and, while 



