142 WILD SPORTS IN THE SOUTH. 



With the first exclamation of delight there was a rush in the 

 water at our side, and a couple of wood-ducks, that had been under 

 the edge of the bushes, took wing so near us we could see their 

 scarlet eyes and hear their piping cry ; at the same instant came 

 the pleasant and long remembered quack ! quack ! quack ! of the 

 black duck, as a dozen of these clergy of the marshes beat upward 

 from the grass at our unexpected coming. 



Two guns fired at the wood-ducks ; but as usual when in a 

 hurry, there was not a bird killed, though a dozen or more arose 

 from neighbouring shelters at the cannonade, and after one or two 

 circuits settled down in the grass beyond. 



 Doctor, how could you miss that beautiful drake ! I will 

 shoot the next one myself," said Miss Jackson. 



" You see," replied the Doctor, rather humbly, " they were too 

 near when I first fired." 



" And when you next fired, they were too far away," said Miss 

 Jackson. 



" You need not say anything," said the Doctor.  Why didn't 

 you kill some of those black ducks ? " 



" Gun hung fire." 



" Pooh ! what nonsense ! " 



" Come, no recriminations, load up ! " 



" How shall we shoot ? " 



" Each boat is to paddle its own way through the reeds, and 

 shoot what rises, and so we will get a good many passing shots 

 overhead. That 's so, isn't it, Mike ? " 



" I reckon." 



" How will we come together again ? " 



"Thar's an island clare up to the eend of this water, 

 and it's got one cabbage-tree on it, I reether think the biggest 

 cabbage-tree north of Tampa Bay. We might come together 

 thar." 



" Amen ! " said the Doctor. " Now let 's start. I am on warlike 

 deeds intent." 



" Quack ! quack ! quack ! " sounded close by us, and one of 

 those wayward ducks that sometimes, against all rules, skulks 

 behind his comrades, got up near us. The Doctor was standing 



