SHOOTING WILD SWANS. 253 



on to some floating berg, rest from exertions, with their 

 graceful necks and heads buried in their abundant snowy 

 down. 



The place in which I was secreted was an isthmus dense- 

 covered with dwarf water-alder, and connecting a peninsu- 

 la, almost an island, with a narrow, long promontory from 

 the main-land. Under ordinary circumstances, it would 

 have been as wet as a well saturated sponge ; but frost had 

 placed its iron hand upon the moisture, and rendered the 

 use of my water-proof sheet almost superfluous a circum- 

 stance that advantageously contrasted with what it might 

 have been. About midday, certainly not later, it became 

 apparent that some important change was about to take 

 place among the swans, for their voices became louder and 

 more frequent, and the before scattered groups concen- 

 trated themselves into closely - packed coteries. This I 

 noted, and thought it foretold change in the weather. My 

 surmises soon proved correct, for the north wind, which 

 had subsided into a calm, was soon after replaced by a 

 southerly breeze, whose influence I had scarcely felt when 

 the swans in succession stretched their wings, and, with 

 heavy, measured stroke, raised themselves in the air, first 

 circling round in gradually increasing circles; ultimately, 

 with outstretched neck, shaping their course right over my 

 ambuscade. The moments of suspense, though few, were 

 sufficient to make the heart beat faster ; but my hopes were 

 not disappointed or long delayed. At length I could see dis- 

 tinctly the eye of the leader, then of the followers; next mo- 

 ment I was on my knees, and with each barrel killed a bird. 



With intervals of ten or twelve minutes, a second and 

 third flock came within range, and were treated similarly ; 

 but here I ceased, for I had enough, and to spare. Had I 

 desired, I could, without doubt, have killed three times the 

 number. 



