A RIVER YACHTING RESORT 165 



What a sight ! 



I could see hundreds of mallard, widgeon, teal and water- 

 birds of all descriptions swimming, bibbling and splashing 

 about in the water all around me. On my left was a family 

 party, which I thought I could decimate entirely if they 

 would only wait until the appointed time came round. 



I looked and looked until I dare not look any more or I 

 should be tempted to outrage the laws of hospitality, throw 

 discipline to the winds, disobey orders and fire. Taking my 

 eye from the peephole I loaded my gun. (I had not dared to 

 load it before; the temptation would have been too great.) 

 Then I fixed my eyes upon my watch and counted the 

 seconds. 



Hardly had I done so when the roar and mighty splashing 

 of five hundred mallard rising from the water together and 

 winging their way heavenward alarmed me. 



This I afterwards ascertained was caused by my agri- 

 cultural friend, who had fallen into a slough of despond and 

 had cracked some faggot sticks in his endeavours to get out 

 and reach his shelter without further mischief. It was a 

 pity, but accidents will happen, as it is said, in the best-regu- 

 lated families. My family party was scattered and all hopes 

 of a wholesale sitting-shot were gone. 



Unfortunately the elements were not in our favour; it 

 was one of those still muggy days than which nothing can 

 be more disadvantageous for wildfowl shooting on inland 

 waters. Every sound could be heard, and was magnified the 

 more by the telephonic qualities of the unruffled water, and 

 there being no wind the fowl flew high and circled longer 

 before they descended. 



Three minutes more ! Overhead the air was dark 

 with fowl of all kinds, flying low, high, in bunches and 

 singly. Enviously I looked at them, eagerly I handled the 

 " excellent gun, with the bent stock," and in my own mind 

 I cogitated upon the probabilities of the life value of the 

 various fowl who ventured so near my resting-place. 



At last the long-waited-for signal was given. The loud 



