ON THE GRAND PRAIRIE. 93 



his plump breast, if properly roasted, not too much, 

 done, with a squeeze of fresh lemon over it and a tiny 

 pinch of cayenne pepper, and mentally resolved that 

 his corpus should form the dish of honour on our board 

 at no distant date ! On the bank of this pond I deter- 

 mined to wait, convinced that I should not find a better 

 situation for dealing destruction to the much-coveted 

 broad-bills. 



What sportsman is there who does not take pleasure 

 in bagging a duck ? He may have killed dozens, and 

 examined minutely each, still he does not tire admiring 

 the last ; the brilliant plumage, the gorgeous colouring 

 of the neck and head, have charms so deeply seated 

 that it is impossible to satiate the fancy. For about 

 ten minutes no visitors arrived, when a cunning old 

 mallard hove in sight, bearing down direct for my 

 screen, undoubtedly a scout out on observation ; lower 

 and lower I cowered as he approached, trusting that 

 the colour of my clothes and the shelter of the corn 

 would prevent his keen eye from perceiving my where- 

 abouts, well aware if I could only fetch him down, his 

 companions would soon follow, as their scout would not 

 return to report unfavourably. On the drake came 

 straight as a line, and was almost within range, when 

 he turned to the left, too far distant to shoot with pro- 

 bable success. " Confound him I" I could not help mut- 



