168 A MEDLEY OF SPORT 



deck again just in time to hear the deep boom of Cot- 

 grove's stanchion gun. 



" By Jove ! what a raking shot ! " exclaimed Jack, 

 who had witnessed the result of the " set " through his 

 binoculars. " But look out ! a thundering big bunch 

 are heading straight for us," added the speaker, as he 

 laid down the glasses and rammed a couple of No. 3 

 shot cartridges into the chambers of the heavy gun. 



The excitement aboard the Seamew grew intense, as 

 a bunch of at least three hundred duck of different kinds 

 flew skimming over the water directly towards the yawl. 

 On and on they came until almost within the range of 

 the heavy shoulder gun. Then suddenly, as though 

 scenting danger, they turned left-handed. 



" Let 'em have it, sir ! " cried Gilson, as he loosed off 

 his long-barrelled, muzzle -loading 4-bore, without wreak- 

 ing the slightest damage amongst the closely packed 

 ranks of the fowl. 



Jack was more fortunate, however, for although he 

 failed to score with his right, a fat pintail doubled up 

 like an old glove to the contents of the full-choked left 

 barrel. It was a tremendously long shot, and one 

 which spoke volumes for the hard-hitting powers of the 

 long-barrelled gun. The bunch of fowl, after making 

 a wide circuit towards the Kentish coast, suddenly 

 turned off at a tangent in the direction taken by the 

 main company, and in a very short time they were but 

 mere specks on the eastern horizon. 



" Deary me, Maister Jack, how that owd gun of yourn 



