258 WITH THE WOODLANDERS. 



though it waun't nowhere near the landmarks fur 

 the coy, had clipped their wings, put feathers 

 in their beaks, an' turned 'em out there, to scare 

 fowl away, the heathen ! If he don't ha' done 

 cuttin' them capers he'll find his coy raised, an' 

 he wun't want it done more 'an once, we reckins. 

 Depend on it, Craft, 'twas a coot that warmint 

 had figgered up with apern-strings." 



These remarks only made Craft feel indignant. 

 " Had any on 'em sin him in specks ? Had any 

 on 'em sin him fed with a spoon, or led about by 

 his little gal?" 



No one replying to these questions, he left his 

 bunch of birds, seized his gun, and went out, 

 stating in the most emphatic manner that "he 

 would hev the creeter if 'twas in the ma'sh, if he 

 raised the coy over it." 



Perhaps I might as well explain what raising 

 the coy means. The ducks come into the decoy 

 or decoys, as the case may be from open waters 

 early in the morning, leaving it to feed again 

 as evening draws near. It is when resting in 

 the decoy that they are coaxed up one of the 

 decoy - pipes and get captured. Extreme quiet 



