86 BROADLAND SPORT 



t' use o' waisten powder an shart loike that there ? better 

 sheut t' bleuming moon," etc., whilst the fowl begin to 

 awaken to the fact that that seemingly innocent-looking 

 exterior must contain rather more dangerous inmates than 

 they at first supposed, and they apparently determine to 

 give it a wide berth in future. Their quiet domestic circles 

 are filled with suspicion and fear. The last volley in the 

 open confirmed their worst apprehensions, besides alarming 

 the whole neighbourhood, for as soon as our bow is turned 

 towards any of the birds, they rise, leading off in all 

 directions, and leave our small boat alone on the billowy 

 wave So we ease her sheet and take a run to leeward, 

 where fortune intervenes in the shape of a small skein of 

 geese, sighted from the starboard quarter. 



Now, fowl at sea, or in the open water, and more 

 especially geese, where they have not been harassed too 

 much, will often allow a sailing boat to approach within a 

 short distance, in comparison to what they will in the case 

 of a rowing-boat, gun-punt or steam launch. The reason can 

 only be assumed to be, and most probably is, because, firstly 

 they are accustomed to see sailing ships and fishing vessels 

 in their immediate proximity, and rarely being molested by 

 them do not attach one half the suspicion or importance that 

 they would to any other class of craft which they observe 

 cautiously sneaking down upon them ; and secondly a small 

 sail may appear to them little different to a larger one, which 

 happens to be further off; whilst the great speed at which 

 a shrimper or gunning-punt (she must not have too much 

 freeboard for this work), with strong tide under her, and 

 fair wind, travels, enable such to approach within a hundred 

 yards before the birds can decide in their minds whether she 

 really is near or afar off. 



Knowing this, our crew adopt these tactics for the geese, 

 and with a flowing sheet, under the fast-freshening wind, 

 " romp " into their midst, dealing death and destruction by 

 a sudden volley from all the artillery on board, resulting in 

 five killed and two wounded. Bringing up head to wind 



