208 



FACTS AND FANCIES 



shore^ our boat was still about twenty yards 

 off. Long drought had left a broad margin 

 of small flat stones and mud between the 

 water and the usual bank. I saw the little 

 bird run up about a couple of yards from the 

 water, and then suddenly disappear. Knowing 

 what was likely to be enacted, I kept my eye 

 fixed on the spot; and v/hen the boat was 

 run upon the beach, I proceeded to find and 

 pick up the chick. But, on reaching the place 

 of disappearance, no sign of the young mer- 

 ganser was to be seen. The closest scrutiny, 

 with the certain knowledge that it was there, 

 failed to enable me to detect it. Proceeding 

 cautiously forward, I soon became convinced 

 that I had already overshot the mark ; and, 

 on turning round, it was only to see the bird 

 rioe like an apparition from the stones and, 

 dashing past the stranded boat, regain the 

 lake, where, having now recovered its wind, 

 it instantly dived and disappeared. The tac- 

 tical skill of the whole of this manoeuvre, and 

 the success with which it was executed, were 

 greeted with loud cheers from the whole party ; 

 and our admiration was not diminished when 

 we remembered that, some two weeks before 

 that time, the little performer had been coiled 



