I THREW UP MY GUN 107 



quite hard, so that with my rubber waders I 

 could kneel down and be concealed. In this 

 way I secured several fine shots at passing 

 birds. Eeady was on the shore with my 

 friend, and I could and did use the punt to 

 pick up mine. 



I had just returned to my concealment, 

 when I saw a flock of mallards flying up the 

 lake, so I squatted in the boat, but they 

 turned from me, so I kept still, waiting for 

 a chance. Without any warning, I heard a 

 "Kahouk!" behind me, and knew, by the 

 direction of the sound, they were coming 

 directly over me. " Oh, my ! if I were only 

 out of this thing !" came involuntarily from 

 my lips ; but there was no time for regrets. 

 I gradually raised my head, so as to get a 

 glimpse of them and their whereabouts. 

 What a sight ! Fully two hundred grey geese 

 coming right over me, about 25 yards up, with 

 their wings set for lighting. I cocked both 

 barrels, and just as I saw their shadow pass 

 me, I threw up my gun. What consternation 

 it produced ! Evidently, with their eyes fixed 

 on where they were going to light, they had 

 not taken me in, and the motion of raising 



