WILDFOWLING AFLOAT 89 



slowly approaching punt above the top of a ridge of sand 

 which lay high and dry between the birds and ourselves. 

 Then, again, we were setting to them dead up-wind, and 

 consequently they were unable to scent us. Suddenly, 

 however, up went the head of the nearest sentinel, and 

 the next moment, with a great to-do, the whole of the 

 company rose like one bird. The wings of the mallard 

 had barely cleared the surface of the water when Jack 

 sent twenty ounces of lead into the " brown " of them, 

 jind when the smoke of the heavy charge of black powder 

 cleared away we saw seven fat mallard lying motionless 

 on the water, while a leash of lively cripples vainly 

 endeavoured to rise and follow in the wake of their more 

 fortunate fellows. " Watch for droppers," said Jack, 

 as he followed the line taken by the fleeting duck. I 

 watched until they were but mere specks on the sky-line, 

 but never a bird faltered in its flight. 



The wounded were soon put hors de combat with the 

 "cripple-stopper," and, having gathered the slain, we 

 pulled back with all haste to the Seamew, for, as though 

 by magic, a dull, smoky-looking cloud began to rise and 

 swell in volume upon the eastern horizon. It was a 

 dense bank of sea -fog driving rapidly up from the 

 North Sea, and we should have stood a very poor chance 

 of finding the yacht had she once become enveloped in 

 that thick grey vapour. 



As we brought-up alongside, Gilson, who had been 

 watching our every movement through his ancient 

 glasses, congratulated us on the success of our expedition. 



