WILD DUCKS AND GEESE 149 



properly. Many a good opportunity may be lost 

 through the intervening of a small twig between 

 the lens and the birds. 



Our blind was between two cypress trees at the 

 edge of a swamp facing a large lake. For several 

 hours we remained quiet, the only interruption 

 being the snores of the guide, who lay fast asleep 

 in the bottom of the boat. Several times ducks 

 passed us, but always out of range, anything over 

 a hundred feet being practically too far for the 

 camera, even with a long-focus lens. 



At last a slight splashing among the cypresses 

 attracted my attention. There, swimming along 

 not sixty yards away, was a solitary goose. Un- 

 fortunately I had not counted on anything in that 

 direction, and therefore had not prepared a peep- 

 hole ; so I stood up, hoping to be able to get the 

 camera above the brush. Quiet as I was, the bird 

 heard me and immediately swam away, much to 

 my disgust. 



About half-an-hour later, while watching a pair 

 of pintails that seemed inclined to come our way, 

 with the corner of my eye I caught sight of some- 

 thing moving quite close to the blind. My surprise 

 may be imagined when I say that this something 

 proved to be the goose, not ten feet away. Here 

 was the chance of a lifetime, and with trembling 

 fingers I drew the slide from the plate-holder so as 

 to be ready when the bird should pass the place 

 where I had made the opening in the blind. At 

 that moment the wretched guide moved his foot 

 and made just enough noise to alarm the goose, 

 and off it flew, without giving me a chance to 



