WHY DIDN'T I FIRE? 109 



of that trap, so that I could turn over and 

 get myself and gun out of the water, they 

 would have had merriment to their hearts* 

 content, as they did afterwards, when I was 

 telling the mishap. I could do nothing but 

 laugh at the ridiculousness of my position, 

 and am inclined to laugh now, as I see my- 

 self kicking about there in the water on Red 

 Deer Lake. I hope, gentle reader, you will 

 be sufficiently considerate to not even smile 

 at my mishap. Just think of my unenviable 

 position and condition there and then, and 

 heave me a sigh of sympathy. Oh, do, like 

 the generous soul that I know you are ! 



Well, I got out of that dilemma and got to 

 the shore as quickly as it was possible in my 

 unworkable apparel, not even stopping, after 

 landing, to bid the old mischief-maker a final 

 adieu, but left her, hoping the next fellow that 

 sailed in her might have a similar happy 

 experience to mine. You see, I was not even 

 inclined to be selfish ! Well, to end up this 

 morning's sport I was forced to do penance by 

 walking in my stockinged feet from the shore 

 of the lake to the house, with my back heavily 

 laden with thirteen ducks, six mallards, four 



