that but yesterday were ranging the woods 

 as wild and unapproachable as wilderness 

 ravens. 



The first great lesson I learned in the 

 years of following the wild goose as a hun- 

 ter was one of tremendous respect for his 

 wariness and intelligence. To call a person 

 a goose would be an exaggerated compli- 

 ment, or a bit of pure flattery, if one but 

 understood what he was saying. Wherever 

 he feeds in the open, Waptonk has his senti- 

 nels posted on the highest point of observa- 

 tion — wise old birds that know their business 

 — and it is next to impossible to approach 

 a flock without being detected. Once it was 

 enough to lead a cow slowly towards where 

 the birds were feeding on the stubble and 

 keep yourself hidden on the farther side of 

 the grazing animal ; but now Waptonk looks 

 keenly under every cow to see if she have 

 an extra pair of legs or no, and so other de- 

 vices must be invented, only to be quickly 

 fathomed by Waptonk's nimble wit, and then 

 cast aside with the others as useless things. 

 On the coast he still listens to the voice of 



193 



In Quest of 

 iVcfptonR^- 



