A FIRST-CLASS BLIND 73 



we went down on all-fours, and, taking advan- 

 tage of little obstacles for shelter, were able to 

 get behind a kind of dyke grown over with 

 wild-rose-bushes without having been noticed. 

 This made a first-class blind, and here we 

 awaited developments. Fortunately, we were 

 to leeward of them, and were safe in that 

 respect. Blue- wings are very keen in their 

 scent, as all sportsmen know, and cannot be 

 approached to windward. 



As they fed towards our blind, others were 

 joining them constantly, until the body was 

 immense. Often while they were out of range 

 they would get their heads up to reconnoitre, 

 offering such fine chances, if they had been 

 near enough, and forcing the exclamations 

 from us, " Oh, if they were only close enough ! 

 couldn't we slaughter them ! " After patient 

 watching and waiting, we were rewarded at 

 dusk by their coming within 30 yards, and 

 as thick as they could feed, but their heads 

 were down. Our guns were all ready, if they 

 didn't go back on us, as most sportsmen know 

 by sad experience they are apt to do. John, 

 my companion, gave a quack : up went a forest 

 of necks. "Ready ! One I two ! " " Bang " went 



