ABUNDANT SPORT. 285 



nearly always single shots ; but here each man emptied 

 his barrels as quickly as possible, one after the other, 

 into the black clouds of the ducks, widgeon, and teal. 

 Down the lakes, and up them, and around, flew the 

 frightened fowl ; and out of the rough reeds and secige, 

 two sharp flashes, followed by heavy roars, could be 

 seen and heard from the difierent stands — the flashes 

 being distinctly visible long before the reports were 

 heard, although these depended upon the distance as to 

 the interval between them. 



Awav far off could be heard the swift beatino^ of a 



thousand pinions. The rushing sound comes nearer and 



nearer. All at once, the wiv-wiv-wiff noise of the air is 



getting close to us. Presently it is over our heads. We 



wheel round upon our heels, and Jack Mansfield and 



myself discharge our double 'petaravos after them 



and up their feathers. Dull thuds, where they hit the 



ground — loud splashes, where they plump into the 



water, — tell us that our shots have told. We do not 



stir, however. Morning must come before we think of 



bagging our game. So we load up again quickly, take 



a nip at the grog-gourd, re-fill our pipes, and empty our 



guns every three minutes, as long as the ammunition 



holds out. Every now and then, visits are paid to our 



saddles. Upon the horns (pommels), large cows'-horns 



filled with powder are tied, whilst behind the cantles 



are bags of shot ; so we renew our ammunition through 



half the night till all is expended, and when our 



