184 MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC 



"Bang!" missed stern shot the last fellow. 

 "Bang ! " goes my second No. 8, far enough 

 ahead that time, for down he came. Three 

 down, and were picked up. See that fellow 

 I struck that second fellow in the flock? 

 He's going out to the ice. There he 

 settled out on the G-ulf ice. " Will, do you 

 see that immense body of birds outside, 

 circling over the ice? They are brants, as 

 sure as you live ! Have just arrived. We 

 will see you to-morrow, old fellows ! " The 

 tide was beginning to come, and the birds 

 had mostly been driven from the water out 

 on to the ice. Mr. Appetite was rushing in 

 for the island, so we headed him and left the 

 game to fatten ; but prior to doing so, shot 

 our decoy-goose, as also the wounded one 

 that came down to us from S. 



We noticed the open water was enlarged 

 rapidly, and the ice rotting fast, as the sun 

 and wind the past two days were very warm, 

 so that while we had had uncommon success 

 the two days on the ground, yet we were 

 convinced there was still sport ahead. Our 

 eleven birds loaded the sled, and made a 

 beautiful picture for us so early in the outing. 



