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their courfe. Perhaps he has the mortification 

 to hear them ahght at too great a diftance for 

 his gun (tho of the longeft barrel) to reach 

 them. And if he cannot edge his boat a little 

 round fome winding creek, which it is not 

 always in his power to do, he defpairs of 



fuccefs that night. Perhaps however he is 



more fortunate, and has the fatisfacition to 

 hear the airy noife approach nearer ; till at 

 length, the hoft fettles on fome plain, on the 

 edge of which his little boat lies moored. He 

 now, as filently as pofTible, primes both his 

 pieces anew, (for he is generally double-armed) 

 and liftens with all his attention. It is fo dark 

 that he can take no aim : for if he could fee the 

 birds, they alfo could fee him -, and being fhy, 

 and timorous in a great degree, would feek 

 fome other pafture. Though they march with 

 mufic, they feed in filence. Some indiftincSt 

 noifes however, if the night be ftill, ifl'ue from 

 fo large a hoft. He diredts his piece therefore, 

 as well as he can, towards the found ; gives 

 his fire at a venture ^ and inftantly catching 

 up his other gun, gives a fecond difcharge, 

 where he fuppofes the flock to rife on the 



wing. His gains for the night are now 



decided i and he has only to gather his harveft. 



He 



