AN EXCITING SIGHT 203 



the ebb-tide running in the same direction, so 

 we all decided not to attempt to go after birds 

 falling over 100 yards to leeward, but to leave 

 any that thus fell to two lobster sailing-boats 

 that had come out from the eastern shore to 

 pick up. S. and John placed their boat first 

 to windward of a clamper, on which there was 

 a sort of cove that nicely concealed them. 

 There they anchored, as it was in line 

 with some of the best feeding- ground. Will 

 and I found another, grounded about 200 

 yards to leeward of S. and anchored the 

 Daisy. 



From these two positions we had an ex- 

 cellent view of the ice as well as the geese, 

 and could see every flock as it started. The 

 tide had ebbed a couple of feet when we saw 

 the first flock of thirty rise from the ice, head 

 the wind and make toward the feeding-ground, 

 which brought them within easy range of S. 

 and John. What a pretty, exciting sight ! S. 

 and John are concealed, ready for action. 

 They are now nicely within shot, labouring 

 along against that heavy wind, entirely un- 

 conscious of what is awaiting them. The 

 head of the flock has passed a little, when up 



