WILD-FOWL 



had been cruising far enough away not to alarm the 

 ducks, approached and gathered in the slain. Stand- 

 ing in close to the battery, he remarked that I was 

 11 learninV and after explaining how I might attract a 

 passing flock by putting one foot up and down quickly 

 in the air, and giving other good advice, he sailed 

 away to disturb a flock which was feeding on the 

 bay. The flight was good for several hours, and 

 then the birds stopped coming. The bayman came 

 and took me from the box. We sailed away to eat 

 our luncheon on the shore. The pipes were lighted, 

 and basking in the sunlight on a dune, I listened to the 

 stories of the sea and ducks. 



Much good advice was given. I did not lead the 

 birds enough, he said. Shot too low at rising marks 

 was too quick at the second pair, not quick enough 

 at the passing flocks. The single bird was far too 

 close and badly torn. One double was done in style. 

 The morning's work had evidently been closely 

 watched, and nothing had escaped the observation of 

 my guide. When the birds began to fly again he 

 asked if he should shoot a bit to show me how. The 

 birds fared badly at his hands. He seldom missed a 

 shot. Soon, with more advice, again he left me in the 

 box. Birds came. I missed them as before. But some 

 there were which came to stay, and at evening when 

 the decoys were taken up the bag was pronounced a 

 good one some thirty birds or more, including the 

 half-dozen shot by my instructor to show me how. 

 The light in the tall white tower was reflected with 

 the stars from the wavelets in the bay. We slipped 

 along before the breeze. 



