SOLD ! ' 205 



While slowly making the passage of The Gut, the 

 trumpeting of pink-footed geese greeted our ears. A 

 herd of those wariest of wary fowl were flighting from 

 their nocturnal haunts on the sand-bar to the meal- 

 marshes and inland stubbles, deeming it wise to travel 

 under cover of darkness. 



" Drat they noisy ode varmints o' geeze ! " growled 

 Tundridge, adding, " They kick up very nigh as much 

 row as a pack o' vox'ounds, but nary pull can a big- 

 gunner get into 'em. They alius favours the shore- 

 poppers, and be d d to 'em ! " 



Now, as to whether honest Tom's vituperation was 

 hurled at the heads of the " pink-foots," or at the local 

 shore-shooters, whom he somewhat slightingly desig- 

 nated " shore-poppers," I know not. One thing is very 

 certain, however — by far the greater number of grey 

 geese which are shot on the coast during the autumn 

 and winter months fall to the guns of the light-shooters. 



The mouth of Mullet Creek was entered just as the 

 first grey tokens of dawn began to gather on the eastern 

 horizon. The heavens brightened perceptibly each 

 minute of time. The broad belt of light cast by the pile 

 lighthouse athwart the tide waxed pale and dim : then it 

 disappeared suddenly, and as though by magic, for the 

 boom of a heavy cannon rolling over the foam-flecked 

 waters heralded the advent of the sunrise. It was time 

 to lower the sail and take to the setting-stick. 



The flood tide was rapidly filling the creek, which 

 from shore to shore was in parts nearly a mile in breadth, 

 either side being fringed by ooze banks and saltings, be- 

 yond which lay the fresh marshes. With the light 

 improving, my companion navigated a high ridge or bank 



