IiV THE MARSH. 139 



nition at travellers and mud-hens, and finally going 

 home disgusted, carrying the report that there weren't 

 but few ducks, and what were flying, flew so high one 

 couldn't reach them with any shot-gun. 



" Within, the last half-hour I have noticed at least 

 twenty different lots, mostly mallards, drop into some 

 place off at our right. We will pick up our decoys 

 and go down there. I know the spot well, and we will 

 get some good shooting. Don't you know it's every- 

 thing to hunt ducks successfully, to know the lay of 

 the land ? If you ever go to a strange place to shoot, 

 expecting to stay two or three days, by all means put 

 in the first half day prowling around getting acquaint- 

 ed with the country ; it will pay you to do so. I will 

 hold the boat steady, and you pick up the decoys. Al- 

 ways propel the boat against the wind when picking up 

 decoys, then you have no difficulty ; whereas, if you 

 come down the wind the boat will drift past some, and 

 you will have extra trouble and labor in gathering them. 

 Pretty cold work, isn't it ? Yes, it is. But it has to be 

 done, and must be done bare-handed. On a day like 

 this it's all right, but take a day when the thermometer 

 registers zero or below, and I can assure you there is 

 no pleasure in picking them up. No ! no ! don't wrap 

 the cords around their necks like that, it takes too 

 long. Hand it to me, and I will show you how. See, 

 commence wrapping at the right side of the breast, 

 then bring the cord over the back and under the tail ; 

 now wrap from under the tail over the back again to 

 the left of the breast. Keep this up till you have about 

 a foot of cord left. Twist that around the neck, and 

 your decoy is ready to put away. Notice the body i i 

 oval in shape and wraps easily. Now try it yourself. 



