A SHELLBACK OF THE CROUCH 299 



ridge : but of late years we ain't had any sort of fowling 

 weather, and I can count the number of geese shot 

 round about here last winter on my fingers and toes. 

 Why, bio wed if there ain't ode black duck again under yon 

 spit of mud. She's been in the river ever since last winter. 

 I reckon she's been badly pricked [wounded] or she 

 wouldn't be here now. That ode oil bottle" (local name 

 for scoters on account of their rank fishy flavour) " beats 

 me hollow like, for I've read the black duck breeds in the 

 Arctic regions. And now, gentlemen, by your leave, I'll 

 drop the trawl here, and there being plenty of open water" 

 (we were by this time clear of the Crouch and in the 

 main), " I will ask one of you to take the tiller while I go 

 down into the cabin and get the stove under way against 

 biling the kittle for breakfast." Thus did Dan's tongue 

 wag until we found ourselves well into the main, when the 

 trawl was dropped over the stern, the weight of the net 

 bringing the little craft almost to a standstill. It was a 

 glorious morning, and we decided to lay the breakfast 

 on the coach-roof instead of eating it in the somewhat 

 stuffy cabin. Maldoon being a novice, I took the tiller 

 while he busied himself with the contents of the hamper, 

 and very soon a most tempting breakfast was laid out on 

 the cabin top. 



" Can you manage to boil a half-dozen eggs down 

 there, Dan ? " 



" Ay, ay, sir ; the kittle's just on the bile like, and I 

 can cook as many eggs as you wish." 



" How[many can you eat, Dan ? " 



