80 The Life Worth Living 



I must either kill that scout or let him go 

 back without seeing me. I tremble with ex- 

 citement, afraid to answer his call lest I re- 

 veal my position. I know he has seen my 

 decoys and determine to keep silent and still 

 as death. 



He came high, circled around me twice, 

 and then came straight up behind, about 

 a hundred yards in the air. Just over the 

 decoys he poised, cocked his long-billed head 

 to one side and peered down at me. 



I knew he was coming no closer and it was 

 a long chance shot, but I determined to 

 make it before he could jump. Lying flat 

 on my back, I snatched up my number ten 

 and let him have a snap-shot. 



He quivered a moment, and down he 

 came, softly, without a struggle, and fell 

 with his wings spread out three feet on the 

 grass, so close to where I lay that I could 

 reach him without rising. 



I picked him up and found a tiny scarlet 



