WITH LANTERN AND REFLECTOR 215 



way of approaching them to within shot 

 seemed to be by lantern and reflector, 

 especially as the nights were pitchy dark. 

 This plan was decided upon, therefore, while 

 Pat and Jack undertook to get the necessary 

 gear ready, by making a box sufficiently large 

 to accommodate a rail way- engine reflector 

 and lantern, which we intended using. Thus 

 equipped, and the box securely attached to 

 the bow of a gunning-punt 13 feet long, with 

 four thwarts, we considered ourselves ready 

 for the performance when the tide suited. 

 Now, all of us could not go on this murderous 

 cruise, so the hardest-hearted fellows were 

 selected Pat, Bac, and Gun to do the 

 slaughtering, while Jack, the courageous scout, 

 was to pole them to those unsuspecting birds. 

 " Old gander, if you could only hear what these 

 companions of mine are saying, you would 

 not stay out there 'houking,' but get up 

 and get away quickly. Why, there's Bac has 

 a dozen of you down already with the double 

 discharge of his trusty No. 8, while what 

 Gun is planning with his trusty circle-shooter 

 I hesitate to name here, but suppose you 

 ought to know. Have you ever heard of the 



