CATCHING THE DUCKS 15 



he made a dash at a duck, it dived. So to allow 

 of his speedy return to his cooking, I called the 

 coolie to come and help. He came, with a rope, 

 and Poonia at the other end; and together they 

 marched along on the opposite sloping sides of the 

 pond, just touching the water with the rope behind 

 the ducks, who continued slowly and steadily 

 swimming towards the other end ; where the cook 

 was squatting at the water's edge with an open 

 basket, for them to walk into. 



"Ah," said the Ancient, "that's the way to do 

 it ; these natives know how to manage ducks." 



I stood looking on with interest these refrac- 

 tory ducks were now going to be captured with 

 the greatest ease just a little more and the cook 

 would have them. 



Not a bit of it ! As soon as they got to within 

 6 feet of him, the eleven ducks turned as one man, 

 and waltzing over the rope, began the journey all in 

 a row straight back to the other end. Away went 

 the cook to await their arrival there, and along 

 went Poonia and the coolie with the rope, gently, 

 so as not to flurry them; when the same thing 

 happened all over again. Another turn, another 



