NIGHT PUNTING. 171 



constantly turning round to see if there be anything a-head. The 

 motion of both man and boat are too often discovered by the birds 

 long before the sportsman is aware they are in sight ; and he could 

 scarcely expect to find wild-fowl in the aft-track of his boat, although 

 there may be chances of such both to the right and left. When 

 proceeding by the side or bank of a river, or along the sea-coast at 

 night, it is as well to sit in the rowing position, because then the 

 sportsman's attention is mainly directed to one side or the other, and 

 not directly a-head, as in the case above presumed, when he is 

 supposed to be moving up or down an extensive space of water, and 

 when he should sit or kneel with his face to the prow. 



The engraving opposite will convey to the reader a notion of 

 the science of night-punting, with the manner of approaching wild- 

 fowl by moonlight. The two punters, it will be observed, are 

 advancing with the birds in full view ; whilst the men in their punts 

 are in the loom, and consequently not seen or suspected by the 

 hundreds of widgeon which are busily engaged feeding in the white 

 water on the brink of the ooze. The punters are approaching steadily, 

 cautiously, and with apparently exquisite precision, and probably 

 reckoning on the numbers which will fall to their lot. Such are 

 "anxious moments" to the punter, because, in the event of any unex- 

 pected noise, as the report of a gun at a distance or other alarm, the 

 whole company would instantly take flight, and the punters' chance 

 would then be gone. 



<{ Now is the time ! 



Closer they join, nor will the growing light 

 Admit of more delay." 



It is altogether a useless attempt to punt at wild-fowl on moonlight 

 nights in any other position than that already explained. The 

 moon must be "bearing on;" that is, shining either directly or 

 crossways towards the punter's face when he lies down to paddle 

 towards them ; and until he thoroughly understands this most 

 essential part of the proceedings attending night-punting, he had 

 better remain at home, for the perils of proceeding in an opposite 

 direction may be serious. 



The danger alluded to, cannot be more truthfully exhibited to the 

 reader than by narrating to him, one of the most perilous and 

 providential escapes ever recorded, which will remain indelibly 

 impressed upon the author's memory as long as he lives; as it 

 will also, probably, upon the memories of all concerned in it. 



