378 DUCK-SHOOTING. 



main as to the fate of their friends. They then returned to 

 reveal the sad tidings to their relatives on shore, and at early 

 dawn repaired once more to the bank, now dry as when they 

 first landed. One body alone was found, and he, like the 

 Duck- shooter, had resorted to the same last and forlorn hope. 

 He had firmly fixed a boat-hook on the highest ridge of sand, 

 and having lashed himself to it with his handkerchief, had 

 determined there to await the rising of the last tide he was 

 ever destined to behold. The bodies of his companions were 

 never seen again, and had probably found a resting-place in 

 the deep channels of the surrounding sea. 



Not far from the scene of this sad story, on the Cheshire 

 side of the mouth of the river Dee, runs a ridge of three small 

 rocky islands, called Great Helbree, Little Helbree, and at 

 the southern extremity, at a somewhat greater distance, 

 forming the termination of the ridge, the Little Eye. At low 

 water, the passage between these rocks and the main land is 

 entirely dry. At this time, therefore, those who were inclined 

 to take the chance of one single shot for a second loading was 

 out of the question bent their way to the Little Eye, and 

 took possession of a sort of excavated hovel, where, under 

 cover of a few rough stones piled together, they were pre- 

 pared to remain till high water ; when, if they were fortu- 

 nate (but this was by no means to be calculated upon with 

 anything like certainty), a floating flock of Ducks and other 

 sea-fowl would drift within reach, and a well-directed fire 

 might do prodigious execution. 



We have heard of we know not hpw many dozens of birds 

 killed or disabled by this solitary broadside. Whether the 

 birds have retired from this part of the river, or the patience 

 of the Duck-shooters has been exhausted, we cannot say ; but 

 of late years the sport seems to have been discontinued. 



In the south of England, this mode is, however, still 

 practised. On the coast of Hampshire, the marksman con- 

 ceals himself till night, and then, listening with attention, 

 directs his course towards the spot on which a flight of sea- 

 fowl has descended to feed: when he judges himself suffi- 



