230 WILD FOWL SHOOTING. 



ducks ahead to look out, and they would keep jumping 

 out in front of the hunters, from 80 to 200 yards. Jim 

 would grab his gun, and say ; " Stop rowing, Hans ; " 

 but the ducks would always veer just out of reach. 



" Mighty funny ! " said Jim, " seems to me I never 

 saw them so wild, did you?" 



" I told you vot," said Hans," I dink ve made a great 

 mishtake dot ve didn't some degoys along pring ; den 

 ve could half segreted oursellufs in der pushes, or grass, 

 and knocked ,m." 



" Bah ! on your decoys," said Jim with disgust, 

 " don't talk decoys to me, they are a fraud, a nuisance. 

 I had some with me once. They got all tangled together 

 in the boat, and I nearly froze my hands in picking them 

 up." 



" Veil, it may be," said Hans, " but I notice the ferry 

 pest dug shooters use them and lods of them. Lets go 

 somevare, for mine pack is almost gebroken mit rowing. 

 Pesides, your hunding tog its using me for a pillow, und 

 if he don't quit it, I will him der poat throw ouwit." 



" Well," said Jim, " here we are at Mud Lake. Shove 

 the boat in the grass, tumble our shells all together in 

 that shell box. We want them handy. Its now eleven 

 o'clock, and we will get some good shooting. Wish the 

 grass was a little higher, so as to hide the boat better ; 

 but then, they won't notice that. Say Hans, what did 

 you wear that light colored stiff hat for ? It makes you 

 look like a dude in a wilderness, and the ducks will 

 surely see you. Your hair is flaxen : take off your hat, 

 then they will take you for a bunch of dried grass, or a 

 dead pond-lily." 



" Say Shim," said Hans, "Why did you vare dot plack 

 hat ? it makes you look like a durdle in a mut-buddle ; 



