THE OLD GANDER SPEAKS 199 



tenderness left in my composition, which the 

 appearance of eight inquisitive blue-wings that 

 dared to come to inspect my shams completely 

 buried out of sight, five of them paying the 

 penalty of that rashness. " Bang ! bang ! 

 bang ! " " Well done, boys ! You are into the 

 fun too." " Bang ! bang ! " " Hurrah, Will ! 

 Well done, boys!" That must be you. Geese, 

 brants, and ducks in great quantities are on 

 the wing. Most of them, disliking the music, 

 are off to the ice ; but there is a flock of geese 

 coming in over the dyke between Oak Island 

 and the main, that have not been in the 

 racket. 



They have just come down the strait, and 

 are seeking feeding-ground. My call went 

 after them, and they are coming directly for 

 me. The old gander speaks, and is answered. 

 Speaks again still coming. Don't think that 

 anyone is nervous around that blind just now, 

 but there's a shaking from some cause. See 

 them ! See them ! See them ! Their wings 

 are set, and they are going to light. They 

 are down in the midst of the decoys. That 

 old gander's head reaches up to the clouds, 

 taking in the situation, as much as to say, as 



