THE FAMILY OF WADERS. 265 



tion of my younger days, and a naturalist to the 

 tips of his fingers. Where we have been together, 

 others have given us a widish berth. No matter, 

 in the water or out of it, round the swamp or stuck 

 fast in it, anywhere would I have gone with Baulk. 



He knew where the French " her'ns " were to be 

 found when they came on the marshes. One day 

 he told me that he "wus goin' fur a 'jipes' " ; but 

 he would not allow me to go with him, for he said, 

 " 'Tis too shaky a place fur you, boy; I shell on'y 

 jest be able tu git in an' out of it. I shell see ye 

 to-night 'bout six." Between six and seven he 

 made his appearance, plastered over with swamp- 

 mud and water, a Barnaby Rudge kind of figure, 

 with the bittern slung at his side. His hands were 

 covered with blood, as if he had been trying to 

 keep some wild cat away from her kittens. To a 

 host of questions, all poured out at once, he replied 

 that he had " threshed him out o' the Dead Man's 

 Lantern ma'sh, poked him out with his pole, out 

 o' a great clump o' flags an' brush -willers. Then 

 he had shot at him, an' winged him. When he 

 went to pick him up, the bird had turned over on 

 his back an' spread-eagled himself, with his legs an' 



