ODESSA AND MISKITCHEE. 57 



the shooting was hardest there, mid as we had no 

 retrievers we never got a quarter of the birds we 

 killed. The isolated gentleman on the biscuit-tin 



o 



got a few long shots, and as his birds all fell in 

 open water, got most of what he killed. But, alas, 

 when he attempted to rise to gather his birds, he 

 was distinctly seen to stick. Vain were his efforts 

 to rise erect. The misguided biscuit- tin had sunk 

 into the treacherous mud bank, slowly but surely ; 

 the part next upon it had followed, and the pride 

 of Kertch had apparently taken root in the w r astes 

 of Miskitchee. However, fate was kind, and by 

 the united efforts of his friends he was rescued 

 from his ignominious position. 



The shore shooters came back tired but happy, 

 though their bag of one cormorant, several red- 

 legged gulls, and a large variety of waders, with a 

 few duck, was rather ornamental than useful. The 

 man of the biscuit-tin and ' the unadorned ' con- 

 tributed some mallards, teal, and a couple of pin- 

 tail, witli a few snipe ; and after counting out the 

 bag, all drew round the fire to imbibe the cheering 

 ' tchai ' (tea), lint why this gap ? Our friend in 

 waders is still absent, and yell loud as we like we 

 get no response from the little reedy island in 

 which he was last seen. For half an hour we 

 waited, and then we heard a gun fired right in the 

 middle of the swamp. Again we shouted and 

 tired, and this time got an answer, but it was not 



