THAT SHELDEAKE. 33 



We now approach the river, and walk slowly down 

 its banks, while a slight fog begins to rise from the 

 meadows; at last we arrive at the favourite flighting 

 place, near the bend of the river ; a bed of reeds 

 occupies half the breadth of the stream, while a huge 

 elm, under which we sit down, nearly overshadows the 

 other half. "We leash the dogs, and I fix a piece of 

 white paper on the sight of my gun, and we then have 

 nothing to do but smoke and wait. What curious noises 

 one hears during the evening ! One moment it is the 

 rushing sound of many wings, as a bunch of wigeon goes 

 hurtling through the air ; at another, the wailing note of 

 that solitary fisherman, the heron, comes mournfully 

 floating from the mere, or the shrill cackle of the 

 watchful goose, as he feeds in yonder meadow, startles 

 the ear of eve. Presently five duck come flying straight 

 for us; they give one wheel, and down they go into 

 the rushes. Joyce clutches my arm, " Themes them, 

 zur ; that painted chap always flights a little behind the 

 rest.^^ ^' All right now ; you look after the ducks and 

 1^11 take care of the sheldrake.'^ There is no time to 

 lose, as the light is fading ; Joyce takes Tim fifty yards 

 up the stream, and sends him across to drive the ducks 

 out towards us; now he's across — disappears in the 

 rushes — a moment's silence, and whirr ! — out they come, 

 the ^'^ painted customer'' behind. In my hurry and 

 anxiety I miss him with my right ; round he wheels. I 

 anathematise the gun and bring my left, with a green cart- 

 ridge in, up to my shoulder, when bang goes a gun, and 

 ^' procumbit humi sheldrake ! " ^^ Well, dang my buttons 

 if that 'aint that cussed Joe Simmons ! " cries Joyce ; 

 and sure enough that worthy, who had been lying in 

 ambush himself, made his appearance on the opposite- 



