WILDFOWLING IN MILD WEATHER. 257 



appear within " measurable distance" of getting a chance. 

 This was by running down on them under sail, and luffing 

 sharply as they crossed our bows to windward. But the 

 breeze failed us just at the critical moment, and though I 

 " tipped " the big gun and risked a very long shot, we got 

 nothing. 



And now I fear my reader's patience will be well-nigh 

 exhausted with this long catalogue of misfortunes and mis- 

 chances. Such, however, are from time to time the in- 

 evitable concomitants of coast-gunning during mild weather, 

 and he will perhaps charitably remember that the experiences 

 which will cost him but ten minutes to read, occupied the 

 writer the greater part of three long days and nights. 



