300 



WILD FOWL SHOOTING. 



other, as we often see mallards, blue-bills, or pin-tails 

 do when coming down vertically from a great height to 

 alight among their kind. They were fully 100 yards 

 behind us. Lying on the flat of our backs we could 

 not see very well, and dared not move. George Ix-i it 

 back his head and watched them through a peep-hole 

 in his eyebrows ; while I could indistinctly see them 

 by looking cross-eyed over the end of my nose. On 

 they came with set wings, right over us. We let them 

 pass by ; tliey were only about 30 yards above and from 

 us. Quickly arising to a sitting position, we let drive, 

 George at the left wing of the flock, I at the right, and 

 down came four, each making a double. George turned, 

 to me, never cracking a smile, and said " Shake." I 

 put on a serio-comic look, accepted his proffered hand, 

 and looking him straight in the face remarked that it 

 was a " beautiful day.'' " Very" replied he, and then 

 lie burst out into a loud laugh. There is a quiet satis- 

 faction that can only be known, and must have been ex- 

 perienced, to enjoy, when two hunters both make 

 "doubles." Nothing may be said at the time, perhaps 

 not at all, but they both appreciate it just the same. 



A large flock coming toward us quickly turned off, 

 as if in flight. The cause was clear, a young man was 

 approaching us in the exposed field. Walking directly 

 up to us, he commenced to talk, and his first words dis- 

 closed his misfortune, an impediment in his speech. 



Said he, " I-yi-yi thu-thu-ought I-yi-yi wou-wu-would 

 cu-cu-cu-ome o-o-over. " 



" You are welcome, young man," replied George, 

 " but don't you see we are in a blind, and geese coming 

 all the time ? They will see you. If we can do any- 

 thing for you, we will gladly do so, but let us know 

 at once, and then move quickly." 



