OUR WILD GEESE 171 



who stayed behind were very cheery as they waited 

 at the back of the shed where the punt was kept 

 under guard ; not because there was even the least 

 fear or suspicion of the people from the hamlet, but 

 because river prowlers now and again would come 

 like grey shadows from nobody knew where ; and, 

 taking what did not belong to them, would depart, 

 knowing that the water leaves no trail to track by. 

 Two dumpy bottles were going the round in a silent 

 but perfectly satisfactory manner, and pipes were 

 being lit, while the chances as to the geese were 

 discussed in low, muttered tones, for sounds are 

 heard with terrible distinctness on the water. 



Presently old Coleman said, " If there is a chance 

 they will soon hev it ; we shan't hev long to wait. If 

 they've guzzled enough, they're restin' on the tide. 

 If they ain't, they'll flight down to Lower Alston an' 

 wait fur the ebb." 



Hardly were the words out of his mouth than 

 the roar of the punt-gun reached them. 



"Hark," said the old boy, " hark ! Stick me in 

 the mud and be d d to me, if they ain't cumin' in- 

 shore to cross over an' down Chetney Ma'shes. Hark 

 at 'em ! Don't they crack on ! Thud, thud ! What 

 the devil's that ? Is it snowing brickbats ? " 



" No, it ain't, Coleman ; it's snowin' geese. Look 

 here ! " 



" In 'em at last ! in 'em at last ! " yelled the old man, 

 and the others shouted too. It was enough to rouse 

 all the fowl on the flats. No caution now. Out went 

 the skiffs to pilot the punt in, and lanterns were lit. 



