SEPTEMBER 1 ON THE MARSHES 121 



varmin as rats, and mice, and vampires." I had reason 

 to suspect the old marshman's veracity anent the non- 

 existence of rodents in our improvised lodging ere dawn 

 began to appear through sundry chinks in the roof and 

 walls of the barn. Still, men who have slept for months 

 at a stretch on the bare veld, as had two of my companions 

 and myself, make light of such small details, and we 

 deemed a couch of clean straw and blankets preferable 

 to lying soft upon feather beds in the frowsy old rooms 

 of the homestead. 



The sun had not climbed very high above the blue 

 horizon when, clad in flowing blankets, we four sprinted 

 down to the brimming tidal river for a swim, and emerged 

 therefrom greatly refreshed. Ere the majority of shooters 

 had left their beds we had breakfasted, and one of the 

 first partridges of the season, in the shape of a barren 

 old " red-leg," was hanging limply from the game stick. 

 " First blood " was drawn by Capt. N., the centre man 

 in the short line of guns and beaters ; the latter consisting 

 of five bronzed and stalwart marshmen, who had been 

 granted half a day's respite from their work on the land 

 to beat for us. " What little corn be left standing may 

 stand for another day, while that in the stooks be muck 

 wet, growing fast, and only fit for feeding pigs," declared 

 Farmer P. ruefully, as he gazed across the rain-sodden 

 marshes, which, but a few days previously, had been 

 practically flooded, and were, in parts, still ankle deep 

 in water. 



Near the centre of the marshes were some eighteen 

 acres of roots, consisting mostly of swede-turnips and 

 mangolds, which flourished exceedingly well on the island. 

 The idea was to drive the birds from the outlying marshes 



