240 DUCK-SHOOTING. 



to open, branching off, in all likelihood, into the com- 

 parative qualities of powder and manufacturers of 

 guns, the President interposed. 



" This is a dry, serious, and solemn conversation, 

 and as every member has already made up his mind 

 on the subject, not very improving ; who will volun- 

 teer to tell a story or sing a song ?" 



" My friend here," replied the unlucky, pointing 

 to the lucky, man, "once intimated to me that his 

 first day's duck-shooting was the best and pleas- 

 antest he ever had, but would never give me the 

 satisfaction of the particulars." 



" The story, the story, let us have the story !" "burst 

 forth the chorus, with delight. 



" I will tell it on one condition," responded the 

 party addressed : " that the gentleman who sug- 

 gested it shall give a true account of his first day's 

 trout-fishing." 



All hands shouted with delight at the prospect of 

 two stories, scenting a joke in the suggestion, but 

 the unlucky man replied, pitifully, " I will if I must, 

 but there are more agreeable episodes in my exist- 

 ence." 



" Never mind that ; if I confess, so must you. 



" Many years ago, gentlemen, myself and a 

 friend had driven down on Long Island for a few 

 days at the ducks. He was an old sportsman, and 

 promised to initiate me, who had acquired consider- 

 able facility with my gun, but had never yet been 

 in a battery on the bay. 



" It is not necessary to say at what house we stop- 



