94 A MEDLEY OF SPORT 



Bad shot though it was, it proved not a clean miss, 

 for a leash of fat plover, gathered from the mud a few 

 moments later, belied Jack's somewhat hasty exclama- 

 tion. That was the last shot of the night, for, although 

 we continued to explore higher reaches of the creek 

 several hours longer, nothing was met with worthy of 

 powder and shot. Upon returning to the yawl we saw a 

 couple of curlew hanging from the rigging which had 

 fallen to our worthy old skipper's eight-bore. 



" Seven mallard, a brace of widgeon, a couple of curlew, 

 and a leash of plover. Not a bad bag for the first day 

 of the cold snap," said J., as he sat over the cabin stove 

 puffing away at his favourite briar. I thought the same, 

 but wisely held my peace, knowing full well that more of 

 the last-named birds should at that moment have been 

 hanging up on the stays of the good yawl Seamew. 



