154 THE MOOR AND THE LOCH. 



Directly upon hearing the report, your retriever will run to 

 your assistance ; and having secured your cripples, you will 

 reload, and, taking out your glass, reconnoitre again; for 

 though ducks, widgeon, &c., would fly out upon the loch at 

 the report of your gun, yet the diver tribe, if there are only 

 one or two together, are perhaps more likely to be under water 

 than above when you fire : but more of them by-and-by. 



Another invariable rule in crawling upon ducks is always, 

 if possible, to get to leeward to them. If you have also a 

 bright sun at your back, and in their eyes, your advantage is 

 great. Never forget in your most exciting moments that their 

 hearing is most acute. I have seen instances of this that I 

 could hardly otherwise have credited. One day I got within 

 about sixty yards of three ducks asleep upon the shore ; the 

 wind was blowing very strong, direct from me to them, a 

 thick hedge forming my ambuscade. The ground was quite 

 bare beyond this hedge, so I was obliged to take the distant 

 shot through it. In making the attempt, I rustled one of the 

 twigs up went the three heads to the full stretch ; but when 

 I had remained quiet for about five minutes, they again placed 

 their bills under their wings. Upon a second trial, the slight 

 noise was unfortunately repeated : again the birds raised their 

 heads ; but this time they were much longer upon the stretch, 

 and seemed more uneasy. Nothing now remained but to try 

 again ; my utmost caution, however, was unavailing the birds 

 rose like rockets. I never hesitate concealing myself to wind- 

 ward of the spot where I expect ducks to pitch, feeling con- 

 fident that, unless I move, they will not find me out. I have 

 often had them swimming within twenty-five yards of me, 

 when I was waiting for three or four in line, the wind blowing 

 direct from me to them, without perceiving by any signs their 

 consciousness of an enemy's vicinity. 



When the weather is very hard, and ducks are driven to 

 the springy drains, a simple way of getting fair shots, but 

 seldom practised, is to make your man keep close to the drain, 



