A NOBLE BAG. 271 



were en avant. However, so many duck came within easy 

 shooting distance that I could not resist opening fire, and I 

 commenced skirmishing forthwith. The birds appeared 

 totally devoid of fear, either of the report of my gun or my 

 presence, and flew frequently within fifteen or twenty yards 

 in the most leisurely and business-like manner. Again and 

 again I loaded and shot, till niy barrels got agreeably warm. 

 Old Nep, my retriever, soon had the ground around my 

 feet thickly strewn with slain, and when an unfortunate 

 duck, less severely peppered than others, or only broken- 

 winged, would attempt to hobble off, Master Nep would 

 give him a pinch abo.ut the regions of the cranium that im- 

 mediately reduced the most obstreperous to submission. 

 Geese commenced to arrive after I had been at work about 

 half an hour ; first a solitary gander, whose coat I dusted 

 and secured, next two or three, and ultimately half-dozens 

 and dozens, while the duck whistled by with all the velocity 

 of sky-rockets. By 4 P.M. my powder-flask commenced to 

 show signs of giving out, and with sickly, hollow rattle pro- 

 claimed that the remaining charges were few. To prolong 

 the sport, I reduced my charges ; but still the end was draw- 

 ing near, and could only be delayed a few minutes, for with 

 regret, though the snow was now falling fast and the 

 weather any thing but enjoyable, I was brought to a halt. 

 On collecting the spoil, I had nineteen geese and forty-one 

 ducks, a load sufficient for a Canadian pony. However, I 

 mannged to stow them all in a fence corner, there to remain 

 till sent for, and most unwillingly I turned toward home. 

 My last view of the field was of broad-bills, in ever increas- 

 ing regiments, rushing on to the devoted crop, and I have 

 little doubt, if my ammunition had lasted, that I could 

 have shown a score that had seldom previously been 

 made. 



