Duck-shooting 5 1 



duck part company with the rest, and before the 

 gun is loaded is a chance at a single duck. A 

 dozen more are almost in range. Two cut in, and 

 one stays. The flight for a few minutes is steady ; 

 then the birds seem to have risen higher, and do 

 not decoy as well. Guns on all sides in the marsh 

 keep them moving. A flock of something differ- 

 ent now flashes by, and a dozen hooded mergansers 

 dart over the decoys. A pair of green-winged teal 

 light ; and as they stop, a double folds them up. 

 Every few minutes black duck, in twos and threes, 

 sometimes a small flock, call forth shots. This 

 shooting lasts until noon, and then comes a brief 

 respite. There is an opportunity to look about. 

 Some hundred yards off are the dead birds, drifted 

 against the edge of the marsh. There are forty 

 odd, and a number of cripples have crawled off; 

 not once has the boat been pushed out. Lunch 

 seems in order, but it is cut short by another little 

 flight. Three or four more teal are bagged, 

 shadow over the decoys, and an eagle swoc^o, ^ ' 

 ceived by the wooden ducks. A scream tells his 

 fright, and he lifts himself up out of reach. With 

 afternoon comes more shooting, black duck mostly, 

 and some teal. One of the last chances is a single 

 black duck high up, and going with the wind ; but 

 it smashes through the quills at the shot. Sunset 

 is near at hand, and Pearson's Pond is about an 

 hour from home. The punter takes up. Between 



