100 A MEDLEY OF SPORT 



The hardy gunners had not moved very far when a 

 moorhen blundered out of a clump of reeds almost at 

 the doctor's feet, who, with a cry of " Take that, ye 

 ploutherin' elephant," loosed off both barrels at the 

 unoffending bird, which, however, flew off unscathed 

 and clucking as though he rather liked it. Muttering 

 something about " the black divil having carried away 

 more lead wid him than he would be able to digest in 

 his natural life," the Irishman rammed a couple of 

 fresh cartridges into his gun and recommenced bog 

 trotting. 



At length the gunners arrived at a narrow part of the 

 fleet, and suddenly, with a great to do, some six or 

 seven mallard rose from the reeds on the doctor's side 

 of the water. The birds flew beautifully for both men, 

 and as they flashed through the moonbeams four barrels 

 rang out simultaneously, but never a duck dropped. 



Scarcely had the report of the firing died away than 

 an unearthly kind of yell re-echoed across the frozen 

 marshes, and a few moments later a hoarse and angry, 



" Wheer the be ye a-shootin' to, ye blazin' Cockneys ? 



You've very nigh killed me mate with your cussed shots, 

 and I be a-comin' to kill one or both of ye out and 

 out," caused the gunners to halt and hold a pow-wow 

 across the water. 



The noise of a boat being swiftly poled through the 

 water now reached the tingling ears of our gallant 

 friends, and, muttering something about lying under 

 the sea-wall for the morning flight, the Irishman took 



