140 WILD FOWL SHOOTING. 



That's right, you have got the hang of it. Just lay them 

 on the bow, as we will want to set them out in the place 

 we are going to. Don't move ! Don't move ! Ha! ha ! 

 got fooled, didn't she ? A widgeon. She saw the de- 

 coys, saw us, still her curiosity got the better of her, 

 and although she was fully sixty yards when I fired she 

 was killed sure. It's surprising what long shots one 

 will make at times . About two weeks ago I killed 

 a mallard off fully sixty yards. My partner smiled at 

 the shot ; just then another came over, I should think 

 seventy yards high. I killed that. It flashed on me 

 that I had on my shooting clothes, and that it was sure 

 death for one to come near me. Just at that instant a 

 mallard swooped down and passed me, going like the 

 wind. She wasn't more than thirty feet from me, and 

 was missed clean, with both barrels. Such is every 

 duck-shooter's experience. Pick up that last decoy, 

 and while you are wrapping it, I will " pike " down to- 

 ward our destined place. " Pike," you will remember 

 is the local saying for " scull." Seat yourself com- 

 fortably on the bottom in the hay, get your gun in 

 readiness, for as we go down through this tangled rice 

 we will surely get a shot ; even now we are so far in, 

 that I wouldn't be surprised if at any moment a pair of 

 mallards would jump splendid ! That was as neat and 

 pretty a double as you ever made, but you shot awfully 

 quick. No use being in a hurry on those close shots. 

 You had lots of time, for they always rise straight up 

 over the rushes ten to thirty feet before flying off. 

 Pick them up by the bill or head and shake off the 

 water before throwing them in the boat. Handsome 

 pair, aren't they ? So dissimilar in looks, too. The 

 drake gorgeous in his green, purple and white ; the 



