200 A MEDLEY OF SPORT 



While hunting about for the wounded lapwing, a 

 spring of twelve or thirteen teal rose from a muddy- 

 drain on the saltings just out of range. As luck had it, 

 however, I was able to mark them down into a small 

 creek which debouched on the shore a short quarter of 

 a mile ahead of me. Fearful that some other gunner 

 might steal a march on me, I lost no time in setting 

 out after the little duck, and, by keeping to a sheep-run 

 under a high sea-wall, which shut out what are known 

 as the meal - marshes from the salt - marshes, I was 

 able to make far better " pace " than would have been 

 possible had we stuck to the gully -intersected saltings. 

 Having covered about two -thirds of the distance, I 

 climbed over the sea-wall, and, walking noiselessly over 

 the rank grass which fringed the banks of a small dyke 

 running alongside the escarpment, I very soon came 

 to a second wall, which protected the easternmost point 

 of the marshes from the inroads of the tide, and from 

 the top of which an excellent view of the creek was 

 obtainable. Now came the most delicate part of the 

 stalk, for, although teal appear to be the least shy of any 

 of the duck family when found on inland streams and 

 lakes, where there is usually plenty of cover for them 

 to harbour in, they generally become wary enough on 

 the coast, unless the weather be exceptionally severe or 

 stormy, when they will often sit in a well -sheltered gully 

 until one is almost on top of them. Pushing my gun 

 before me as I crawled hand over hand up the face of the 

 embankment until my head was on a level with the top. 



