TOO-CURIOUS GEESE 117 



trouble. This flock came along without a 

 call, and in fine range for a shot for each of 

 us, when the toller spied them and spoke, in 

 his misery wanting company, and he soon 

 had it. In answer to the call they set their 

 wings, and would have actually lit alongside 

 of him had I allowed them. They came 

 where Harry had a poor chance, for the 

 wounded goose was to the left of me, having 

 walked some distance in that direction after 

 we placed him, and the wavies inclined 

 towards him, so that unless the unforeseen 

 happened, he would not have been in it. They 

 were now within 30 yards of me, with wings 

 set and feet down ready to light. This 

 brought them so low, I had to rise above the 

 pit. In doing so I gave a shout which pro- 

 duced "bedlum and hoodlum" too, for they 

 were so startled at the unexpected, they got 

 terribly mixed up, which my shooting did not 

 help, for I sent both charges through them 

 at a 35-yards' range, and counted seven lying 

 on the ground as the result, with three others 

 within a short distance that had fallen. 



Now, those foolish fellows were not satisfied 

 with my reception, but evidently were curious 



