A POOR BAG 8 1 



I followed the sound to some distance, but could not 

 overtake the bird on my snow-shoes. Setting out to 

 return to my cachet, I was interrupted by a flock of 

 reed-buntings ; I got a shot at one, but the cap missing 

 fire, away they flew. I was returning disconsolately by 

 the side of a thick but narrow plantation, when I heard a 

 ''gag, gag" through the trees, and descried seven geese, 

 apparently flying straight for my companion's cachet ; 

 and on returning I learnt that he had brought down a 

 bean-goose. 



On my way back to my cachet I met another party 

 of reed-buntings, one of which I bagged ; then I sat in 

 my hiding-place for an hour, waiting for geese that never 

 came within range. At eight I found I had taken a 

 wink of sleep. I could stand it no longer, so set off 

 in search of my companions, and bagging another reed- 

 bunting and wagtail on my way, we returned together to 

 our encampment, where we soon had the kettle boiling 

 with tchai. 



The postmaster and " Cocksure " turned up as we 

 were breakfasting, and reported a blank night. The 

 Preestaff, we found afterwards, had fared no better. 

 Deciding that we had had enough of this wild-goose 

 chase we harnessed our sledges and returned home in 

 a steady rain. Our horse was done up, and we were six 

 hours on the road, through four of which we slept soundly, 

 waking up just in time to bag a score of shore-larks. 



Notwithstanding its inglorious results, we enjoyed 

 our trip as a novelty, and had many hearty laughs over 

 divers ''spills" out of and over the sledge; but as ours 

 was the only one that brought home a goose, the best of 

 the laugh was on our side. We had, moreover, bagged 

 a new migrant, and " Cocksure " had seen a black wood- 

 pecker and a common snipe. 



F 



