SHOOTING 335 



we started for the river, which was much flooded, 

 and embarkins^ in a boat, I was soon landed on a 

 small mound in the middle of the floods, about 

 twelve feet square, and was told it was a first-rate 

 place, as the ducks, in their flight from some large 

 ponds about five miles off, always passed over it. 

 I was also told I might be sure to know when they 

 were coming by the flashes of the guns of other wild 

 fowlers on the banks some miles away. A whistle 

 was given me to signal for the boat when I wanted 

 it, and I was left alone in my glory. It was very 

 cold, and my island was too small for exercise. 

 Soon a flash caught my eye, and then the report of 

 a gun fired some miles off came to my ears, soon 

 followed by a succession of flashes and reports from 

 gunners posted along each side of the river. The 

 effect was very pretty, and I admired it greatly, 

 until an idea struck me that there might be guns 

 posted on the bank behind. Just then some ducks 

 came along, and I fired rapidly at them ; almost 

 simultaneously came two reports from the bank, and 

 some heavy charges of shot cut up the water all 

 round ; in addition something weighty struck the 

 ground just in my rear, covering me with mud. 

 Instantly blowing my whistle, the boat soon came, 

 and on landing I saw two men, one of whom coming 

 up asked me where I had been. I told him " on 



