A HORNING WITH NATURE, ETC. 257 



easily be shot across. Quickly raising my head, I 

 sniffed the air, as if I had struck a doubtful or uncer- 

 tain scent, then snuffing over again, punched him with 

 my foot, told him to keep low and be prepared to shoot, 

 at the same time suggesting that he try and see if he 

 could not smell them. Such a look as he gave me ! 

 We came down quietly, and all the time I was ex- 

 claiming to him in a whisper, that the scent was grow- 

 ing stronger. At last I told him the scent was so strong 

 that they would jump out any second. He was only 

 half prepared. At my command (I had to be impera- 

 tive at this time) he was ready. Giving a few quick, 

 strong strokes with my sculling oar, I drove the boat 

 into the sand on the inclined shore, making a grating 

 noise ; when up jumped, within 30 feet of us, fully fif- 

 teen mallards. I dropped one with each barrel, while 

 he killed with his first and missed with the second. 

 He was too much surprised to move, and I clambered 

 over him and picked up the ducks. When I returned 

 he hadn't recovered from his astonishment. 



Said I, " It was very plain there was quite a large 

 flock from the strong scent, and had the wind blown 

 directly toward us, I could have winded them much 

 sooner." 



He said nothing then, indeed was in deep thought 

 for an hour, while I talked along as if nothing unusual 

 had happened. That night, as we were rowing along, 

 he suddenly dropped his oars, allowed the boat to drift 

 with the current, and looking me squarely in the face, 

 said, " Now, no nonsense ; tell me, how you knew those 

 ducks were on that point." 



"Smelled them," said I. 



" Oh, come ! you know I don't believe that and 



17 



