284 THE WILD FOWL. 



I remember one night in particular when we mus- 

 tered fourteen guns, so that we were able to put eight 

 guns on the lower lake— two on the dividing ridge, and 

 four on the upper lake. We were all mounted to ride 

 to the lakes, for they were fully four miles from the 

 house, and many of the young men had come from some 

 distance beyond ; but even had there been no distance 

 to go, it is contrary to Texas customs to walk a yard. 

 I succeeded in getting my favourite stand upon the 

 dividing ridge, with my host's son, Jack Mansfield, as 

 a chum, and after we had fastened our horses, we lit our 

 pipes; and taking an occasional pull at a large gourd 

 of grog which we had brought with us, we were en- 

 abled to pass the time pleasantly enough till the others 

 had got to their stands, after securing their horses, 

 and were all ready to commence operations. It was 

 nearly full moon, and the night beautifully light. The 

 noise made by the thousands of wild fowl was absolutely 

 deafening. 



All at once, bang I went a gun towards the lower end 

 of the lake ; and up rose thousands of fowl, with a 

 thundering noise, in that direction. Bang ! again went 

 another and nearer gun, and thousands more were on 

 the wing ; and in less than two minutes from the time 

 the first gun was fired, everyone of us had * cut loose ' at 

 the dark masses of the birds as they flew around and 

 over us. It was unlike any other firing. I have heard, 

 in a good rookery, pretty quick shooting, but the}^ were 



