WILD-FOWL SHOOTING. 183 



waves. You decide on walking by the dykes, 

 and picking up whatever fortune may send in 

 the ramble. If the dyke is free in its centre 

 from water plants or weeds, it is advisable to 

 steal softly to the bank and glance up and down 

 its course, being careful to keep the dog at heel, 

 who will make a snuffling noise from mingled 

 pleasure and anxiety at this hour. When you 

 have reached the bank it is quite possible that 

 you may see a wild duck or a batch of teal 

 dabbling about. Should you be lucky enough 

 to catch a glimpse of them, retire from the 

 edge of the trench and run down the fen until 

 you arrive opposite their moorings. A rush 

 for it is the next step, and as the frightened 

 birds quack and clutter out of the water, let us 

 hope hand, nerve, and eye will be equal to the 

 occasion. Your retriever may now be permitted 

 to scamper on, unless, indeed, you have some 

 favourite snipe marshes in the neighbourhood. 

 If you have, it is quite a matter of whim with 

 these eccentric birds whether they will wait for 

 you to walk them up in 6nes and twos, or 

 whether they will spring in a wisp or ball from 

 the bottom and burst, as it were, in all direc- 



