106 DAYS STOLEN FOR SPORT 



When the man came on duty he was told that 

 a duck had been seen from the bridge, and it was 

 from there he saw a movement amongst the rushes 

 in answer to the hidden string. He hurried to the 

 stationmaster, who was looking very innocent, for 

 permission to fetch his gun and, when he got the 

 answer : " Yes, you may, but don't be long," he was 

 off at a run, and was soon back, to find the duck 

 still there. He fired, and in response the bird 

 went under, head first, in the most natural way, to 

 appear again and get another charge of shot and 

 dive again and, after that, to come up again quite 

 lively. 



' ' I've winged him anyway but, dang it, I have 

 no more cartridges." With that he hurried to 

 Hoole, asked permission and ran off home again, 

 to find on his return the bird still swimming quite 

 serenely. Again there was a bang and smoke, 

 followed by a dive, and then someone, no matter 

 who, could not keep his laughter back ; then every- 

 one laughed and the fun was over. He was the 

 best tempered of fellows, but the question : "Shot 

 that duck yet, Bill ? " never failed to rouse him. 



We reached the pond, to find it about two acres 

 in extent, with its sheltered side, next to a planta- 

 tion, clothed with high rushes, the sight of which 

 somewhat restored equanimity to my friend who 

 had not taken well the enforced leaving of the lake 

 where he had been so successful. He had a long 

 look at his great prize before he followed my lead 

 and cast his bait towards the harbour in which our 

 new hopes were centred. We then stood and 

 smoked, watching our floats gliding and bobbing in 

 such fashion as made us momentarily expect their 



