WILDFOAVLING IN THE WILDERNESS. 



387 



night's mantle from the earth. Gradually grew these first 

 rays, and soon the whole east was aglow, gleaming across 

 parched plains, as the glorious morn awakened. To the 

 enticing oasis of the Retuerta pushed forward the long 

 cavalcade, but the sun was high ere all the strategical 

 points could be simultaneously occupied. For it was 

 arranged that each gunner should advance at a given 

 signal to his post, and that no shot should be fired 

 till all were in position. Of the difficulties and dangers 

 in reaching those points, through marsh and quaking bog, 



we will not stop to speak ; at length all were in place, 

 and ducks already streamed overhead within half gunshot 

 while we awaited the signal to open. Then from the 

 distant land a shot resounded, and simultaneously, all 

 along our line, rang out a merry fusillade ; here comes 

 my first chance, a pack of wigeon, straight for the tub. 

 A bright-winged drake paid first tribute, and two more 

 from " the brown " fall to the left. As fast as car- 

 tridges can be slipped into the breech they are required, 

 and two guns are kept going continuously — now at a 



c c 2 



