OUR WILD GEESE 169 



who are at home hold themselves in readiness to 

 turn out when the time comes, in order to see the 

 expedition well off, for the fowlers have made friends 

 with all these good fellows. 



The tide is up, and from the door of the small 

 public-house where they have taken all the rooms 

 that could possibly be spared, the two fowlers step 

 out muffled as if for a Polar expedition, and indeed 

 it is not so very far removed from being one. 



" All right, gentlemen," says the spokesman of the 

 group that has been waiting outside, " if so be as 

 you ain't no objection like, we be cumin' to see ye 

 off, an' bear a hand, if we ken, to git her out o' the 

 drift-ice for open water." 



" Thanks ; you are good fellows to think of us," 

 is the reply, and then among that group there arises 

 a call for " old Coleman," and a grizzled old fisher- 

 man steps to the front. 



" You must be pilot, Coleman, for you knows 

 better 'an most on us what can and what can't be 

 done on a night like this." 



Thus acknowledged as leader by his neighbours, 

 old Coleman takes the lead, merely remarking that 

 " if she ken be got out, there will be a chance ; fur 

 the geese have guzzled fur nearly a week without 

 bein' got at, 'cos o' the ice. Hark at it rattlin' an' 

 crunchin', as if a couple o' three-deckers was a- 

 boardin' o' each other." 



Arrived at the rough shed at the water's side 

 where the punt was, with a man to keep guard of 

 herself and her gun, a consultation was held as to 



