62 THE WILD-FOWLER. 



they part company at twilight, the strangers not venturing- to trust 

 their precious lives there all night, nor caring to deprive themselves 

 of their customary evening visit to some near or distant moor. 



The next day, the same strangers again appear in the decoy ; the 

 attractions and enticements of the previous day having made such a 

 favourable impression upon them that, 



" Like simple youths, when lured by woman's charms," 







they cannot resist the temptation to call again as they pass over in 

 their morning flight. This time, they follow their pleasant com- 

 panions readily, and without the least suspicion, to the mouth of the 

 pipe, where they find more food ; but some of it is up a suspicious- 

 looking ditch, which, on glancing at, they doubt, and decline 

 following their kind enticers farther. Whilst curiously looking 

 about them, and regarding their benefactors with surprise at the in- 

 cautious manner in which they proceed up the suspicious ditch, they 

 are at first slightly startled at the sudden appearance of a new ob- 

 ject, in the shape of a playful dog, which appears on the bank a 

 moment, and then vanishes. Again it appears ! when every head and 

 neck is stretched out, apparently in pleasing amazement. Again and 

 again the playful animal appears ! Their curiosity knows no bounds ; 

 the attraction is irresistible. They forget the suspicious appearance 

 of the ditch ; their whole attention is fixed upon the infatuating little 

 creature upon the bank ; and, as if their curiosity must be gratified, 

 they proceed up the pipe a little way : 



" In vain the ditch, 



Wide-gaping, threatens death." 



They pause, and again the curious little animal appears ; when, just 

 as they are beginning to feel suspicious of their safety, he again 

 appears wicked tempter ! and they advance a little farther. His 

 movements are quicker and quicker. They have nearly discovered 

 he is simply a little red-and-white animal : their curiosity is well- 

 nigh gratified : they are just thinking of beating a retreat, when the 

 fowler appears on the bank, directly in the very path by which they 

 wish to return. Their alarm is great ; but there yet seems one chance 

 of escape : they imagine one route is as good as another, and think 

 of getting out the other way : they turn the corner, following the 

 ditch, and, too late, discover that retreat is impossible. Helter- 



