FLIGHT SHOOTING ON GRAND PRAIRIE. 145 



around my feet thickly strewn with slain, and when 

 an unfortunate duck less severely peppered than 

 others, or only broken- winged, would attempt to hobble 

 off, Master Nep would give him a pinch about the 

 regions of the cranium that immediately reduced the 

 most obstreperous to submission. Greese commenced to 

 arrive after I had been at work about half an hour ; 

 first a solitary gander, whose coat I dusted and secured, 

 next two or three, and ultimately half-dozens and dozens 

 in squads, while the duck whistled by with all the 

 velocity of sky-rockets. By four P.M. my powder- 

 flask commenced to show signs of giving out, and with 

 sickly, hollow rattle proclaimed that the remaining 

 charges were few. To prolong the sport I reduced 

 my charges, but still the end was drawing near and 

 could only be delayed a few minutes, for with regret, 

 though the snow was now falling fast and the 

 weather anything but enjoyable, I was brought to a 

 halt. On collecting the spoil I had nineteen geese 

 and forty-one ducks, a load sufficient for a Canadian 

 pony. However, I managed to stow them all in a 

 fence corner, there to remain till sent for, and most 

 unwillingly I turned towards home. My last view of 

 the field was of broad bills in even increasing regi- 

 ments rushing on to the devoted crop, and I have 

 little doubt if my ammunition had lasted that I could 



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