THE SURGEON'S FIRST GOOSE 131 



reckon," murmurs Gilson, after glancing at the row of 

 statue-like figures dotted under the sea-wall. 



Truth to tell, the " Gaffer," although a good enough old 

 chap in most respects, is somewhat a selfish gunner, 

 and seems to entertain the mistaken idea that wild- 

 fowling grounds and wildfowl were created for his own 

 special benefit and behoof. 



The old gunner suddenly holds a hand to his right 

 ear, and, hstening for a moment, he ejaculates, " Hinter 

 come the geeze ! Can't ye hear them a-talkin' ? " 



The Doctor listens intently, but can hear nothing ex- 

 cept the monotonous dirge played by the waves upon 

 the wreck-strewn sand-bar. Then the faint but ever- 

 increasing sound of many pairs of wings beating the air 

 is borne to him on the breeze, and, despite the whispered 

 warning of " Don't 'ee move or pull trigger till I give the 

 word ! " the excited little surgeon cannot resist straighten- 

 ing his back, and in so doing displays more of the upper 

 portion of his anatomy than is desirable in " waiting-up " 

 for fowl. 



" Keep down, maister ! Keep dow^n ! " mutters Gil- 

 son, as the hoarse " honking " of the approaching geese 

 drowns the fanning of their wings. 



The first " skein " is near at hand, and a number of 

 hazy forms flying in irregular wedge formation pass over 

 the sea-wall and head for the old hulk. Half-a-dozen 

 shots are fired at the geese by the men hning the wall, 

 including a couple of barrels from the " furriner." But 

 that unmistakable thud which proclaims a fallen bird 

 does not reply to the volley. 



" Too high, I doubt, but let 'em have it ! " ejaculates 

 " Gaffer " Gilson, springing to hi^ feet. 



