206 MELTON AND HOMESPUN 



of sludge, upon which flourished great quantities of 

 Zostera marina, succulent, grass-like, marine herbage, 

 upon which the surface-feeding ducks and geese delight 

 to feed. 



"Do 'ee hear they fowl a-talkin', maister ? I doubt 

 not there be a tidy lot on the ridge, so keep a bright 

 look-out," whispered Tundridge as he dexterously and 

 silently propelled the low-sided punt through the shallow 

 water, keeping well under the shelter afforded by the 

 high banks of saltwort-clothed mud that extended along 

 the left-hand shore of the river. 



Foot by foot, and fathom by fathom, crept the low, 

 grey gunning-punt toward the still invisible fowl, until 

 one could distinctly hear the cackling of mallard in 

 chorus with the shrill, whistling call of widgeon. It 

 requires a keen and ardent big-gunner to imagine the in- 

 tense excitement which takes possession of the man 

 behind the swivel-gun, when, after a long and trying 

 " set " to a company of fowl, he finds himself gradually 

 but surely approaching within range of his quarry. I tell 

 you, sirs, that the blood simply raced through my veins 

 on that cold Christmas morning as we drew almost 

 within shot of the high bank of slob, behind which I 

 guessed a goodly number of mixed fowl were gathered. 

 I dared scarcely to breathe, or move an eyelid even, and, 

 oh ! how my tingling, frost-numbed fingers itched to 

 tug at the trigger-string and send twenty ounces of lead 

 hurtling into the thick of the still hidden feathered ranks. 

 Then I caught a glimpse of the birds over the ridge — 

 mallard, widgeon, and a few teal — three hundred head, all 

 told, at least ; but, alas ! all still out of range of even the 

 big two-inch M.L. gun. 



