140 MELTON AND HOMESPUN 



guns, who had taken up stands beyond the Dutchman, 

 were hard at it by this time, and although the high 

 reeds obscured the men themselves from sight, I saw 

 duck after duck and teal upon teal drop to the contents 

 of their guns. At length, just as I was beginning to 

 think my luck was out, a big spring of teal came heading 

 straight for me. The teal passed within twenty yards of 

 my blind, and so closely packed were they that no fewer 

 than three fell to my first barrel, while another, hard hit, 

 dropped into a growth of water-plants. For the next 

 ten minutes or so the sport was fast and furious, and 

 although personally I shot but indifferently, my com- 

 panions acquitted themselves in first-rate style, more 

 especially the lawyer, who was indeed one of the finest 

 shots I ever met. The beaters enter the last belt 

 of reeds that lies between the guns and themselves, and 

 in couples and dozens and small bunches the coots 

 begin to leave their final haven of refuge, and, quickly 

 getting up speed, afford us some really pretty shooting 

 as they pass high up overhead, or to right or left, at a 

 great pace. The drive is now over, and the yelling, 

 slime-soiled natives are set to work to gather the slain, 

 which, when counted, run very nearly into three figures. 

 The marshy land bordering the dam was next visited, 

 when several couple of snipe and a beautifully plumaged 

 avocet were shot. Then we rode back to the " Golden 

 City/' well satisfied with the morning's sport, and with 

 appetites that must have astonished the waiters of the 

 Grand National Hotel, at which hostelry we breakfasted. 



