A STOLEN MARCH 241 



The first grey tokens which herald the approach of day 

 were beginning to appear on the eastern horizon as we 

 set out for the open estuary, my companion negotiating 

 the sinuosities of the gully with his setting-stick in that 

 skilful manner born of life-long experience, which gives 

 a professional punt-gunner such an immense advantage 

 over the average amateur in the pursuit of fowl among 

 the tortuous waterways that intersect the mud-flats. 

 But the tide was making rapidly, the gully running 

 half-bank high, while the outlying banks were well 

 a-wash. Very soon the whisthng of pinions and the 

 merry " cackle " of a team of mallard passing overhead 

 warned us that the flight of the fowl from their nocturnal 

 feeding-grounds inland had already commenced, and 

 through the uncertain light we caught a momentary 

 glimpse of their shadowy forms winging seaward. Then 

 our ears were treated to the hoarse " trumpeting " of a 

 herd of pink-footed geese, which at the peep o' day deemed 

 it wise to leave their favourite haunt on a treacherous 

 sand-ridge and repair to the meal marshes and uplands. 



" Drat they noisy ode varmints o' geeze," growls 

 Gilson, under his breath; "they kick up as much fuss 

 as a pack of '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 Gilson's vituperation was hurled at 

 the heads of the " pink-foots " or at the shore-shooters, 

 whom he somewhat slightingly designates " shore- 

 poppers," I know not; but one thing is very certain — 

 by far the greater number of grey geese which are shot 

 on our coasts during the winter months fall to the gun 

 of the flight-shooter. 



