IN THE MARSH. 121 



CHAPTER XL 



IN THE MARSH MORNING, MIDDAY AND EVENING 

 DUCK SHOOTING. 



ONE of the first impressions engrafted into the mind 

 of the young hunter is the thought of early and late 

 shooting. When he has become fully supplied with 

 gun,, clothes, dog, decoys, and the many incidentals that 

 go toward completing his armament or outfit, his mind 

 naturally runs in the channel of shooting. Older friends 

 and experienced hunters tell him what they have done, 

 times they have had, shooting in indistinct light by the 

 dim twilight, and even by the moon's pale rays. So 

 his desire is to start early, and either by driving or 

 rowing, to be stationed on the shooting ground at break 

 of day. 



Grant, then, indulgent reader, that you and I know 

 such an amateur hunter, and for the purpose of illustra- 

 tion, allow me to take an inexperienced person out for 

 a hunt, the special object being to give him the benefit 

 of our experience and practical knowledge. Among 

 our intimate friends, now that you are to have a voice 

 in choosing, who shall we take ? Ah ! I read your 

 thoughts ; mine are the same, and he is the one I will 

 ask. Who is it ? Why, who could it be but yourself. 

 It seems strange how the same thoughts will run at 

 times, in the minds of different persons, doesn't it! 

 Possibly you smile and reply, " Great minds run in 

 the same channel." Not so with us, however, for we 



