298 WITH THE WOODLANDERS. 



it. You gobbled that 'ere snipe. I got ye now." 

 Not quite, for the man's feet caught in the tough 

 wire-like blite roots, and into a shallow salt-water 

 pool he went head first. 



Once more we lost that crow ; ten minutes after- 

 wards we saw him making his way across a small 

 deep creek. " If I drowns, I'll have ye. Yes, if I 

 goes under with ye ; " and so saying the shooter 

 at once proceeded to take off the heavier portion 

 of his clothing. But this wet job he was spared, 

 for a mussel-picker on the scalps, on the other 

 side of the narrow deep creek, came running up 

 to see who or what it was that had been wrecked ; 

 and seeing him the crow made for shore lower 

 down, ran up a gripe, and there our companion 

 caught him. The catch was mutual, for our 

 friend's right hand was bleeding when he held 

 the bird up. A dun -crow can fight. "Ah, you 

 can holler ; you eat that 'ere snipe, didn't ye, eh ? 

 Take that 'ere fur it." Whack! 



The life of a shore-shooter has a beneficial effect 

 in training the man, for it gives him self-command 

 and patience, combined with keen observation ; 

 and without these qualities you will never get 



