PUNT-GUNNING 



97 



other sits athwart the staunchion gun forward and directs 

 the course. The dead are discarded in preference to the 

 livelier cripples, and after all are collected, nicely and cleanly 

 packed away, the big gun is reloaded and we are again in 

 readiness for further action. 



But, presuming a duffer had been in our place, how 

 different it all would have been ; ten to one he would have 

 crossed the birds' wind and jumped them before being aware 





THE CRIPPLE-STOPPER IN ACTK 



of their close proximity, or if he had got a shot he most 

 probably would have rushed in prematurely misjudged 

 distance or shot too high or too low. In any case he could 

 not possibly have bagged more than half the number that we 

 have here depicted. 



Sometimes a single cock widgeon will get into the middle 

 of a flock of gulls, and many instances are on record when, in 

 the uncertain light of early morning, a shot has been made 



