THE FIRST WIDGEON OF THE SEASON 5 



patch of slob on the opposite side of the creek ; but as yet 

 not a sign is there to be seen of the widgeon. At length, 

 however, a number of rotund forms are seen huddled 

 together on a long, narrow spit about 250 yards 

 ahead, and a laconic " Theer they be " from old Gilson 

 puts the man behind the gun more than ever on the 

 qui vive. 



Foot by foot and yard by yard creeps the punt to- 

 wards the company of widgeon, until they are almost 

 within range of the big gun rigged in her bows, and still 

 they do not appear to realise that death lurks so near at 

 hand. But the clever old fowler takes advantage of 

 every possible bit of cover afforded by the high saltings 

 and mudbanks, close under which he steers with a 

 skill bred of Hfelong experience, and as he " sets " 

 to his fowl dead up wind they are unable to scent the 

 danger. 



Suddenly up goes the head of the nearest sentinel, 

 and the next moment the whole company — numbering 

 some 400 birds — rises in a cloud. The wings of the 

 widgeon have barely cleared the ground than twenty 

 ounces of " Abbey B chilled " are sent into the " brown " 

 of them, and when the smoke of the heavy charge of 

 black powder clears away thirteen fat widgeon are dis- 

 covered lying motionless on the glistening surface of the 

 mud, while a leash of Uvely cripples vainly endeavour to 

 rise and follow in the wake of their more fortunate 

 fellows. The gunners watch for other birds to drop from 

 the ranks as the remainder of the company fly seaward. 



