AIM WELL AHEAD 191 



heads erect, ready to jump. " Bang ! " goes 

 S.'s No. 8. They jump towards the boat, 

 when, "Bang ! bang ! bang ! " They were tum- 

 bling in every direction, but, for the moment, 

 my own work was cut out. "Don't move, 

 Will, for your life ! Get both barrels ready. 

 They are coming directly for us, about 20 

 yards up. Don't move till you get the word 

 from me, then act quickly." So, when the 

 head ones were abreast of our boat, and a 

 little back, I called out " Now, Will ! give it 

 to them. Aim well ahead." When that shout 

 was made, and the guns thrown up, that 

 hitherto harmless ice-cake became suddenly 

 transformed into veritable gunners on murder 

 bent, and that flock of geese was more sur- 

 prised than when S. woke them up. " Will, 

 keep your eyes on the flock as they go to the 

 ice. There may be more fall." We have 

 down, six; four of them dead, two winged, 

 and they are working off. " Mr. P., there goes 

 another fellow, and, by George ! there has 

 another one left the flock, with his wings set, 

 going off towards the westward. Great Scot ! 

 he is down, too. I know he fell dead, the 

 way he tumbled. Load up again, quick, with 



