SBOOTING MALLARDS IN A SNOW STORM. 85 



I stood behind him. It seemed as if I could see the 

 gun follow my suggestions. The loud report rung 

 through the woods, and the drake fell with a splash, 

 dead in the water. Harry turned to me excited and 

 delighted, throwing his wet arm around my neck, and 

 tenderly said : 



" William ! thou hast taught me to kill the flying 

 duck, and I thank thee for it ! Many a time and oft 

 have I tried in vain to do this thing, but have failed. 

 Thy experience and thy skill hath disclosed to me the 

 secret of thy success, — and I am indebted to thee for 

 it." 



Imagine the scene, dear reader — ^there in the soli- 

 tude of the forest. I felt that the necessities of the oc- 

 casion demanded a reply on my part, but appropriate 

 language failed me — ^he was embracing me tenderly. I 

 came near telling him not to lean quite so heavily 

 against me, but thought that entirely out of place, con- 

 sidering his eloquent speech. Gulping down a piece 

 of apple, nearly choking myself, it brought tears to my 

 eyes. Harry, not knowing the cause of the tears, 

 thought they were the result of his eloquence. I had 

 by this time regained my self-possession and said : 



" If thy heart hath taught thee that thou art indebt- 

 ed to me, thy debt is cancelled. Did not thy friends 

 trust thee to go to the deep woods with me, and should 

 not I disclose to thee the secrets of mine experience ? 

 Follow but my advice. Thou may'stnot hit the " crow " 

 so often, but the swift flying duck will bo at thy 

 mercy." 



" Will ! " said he. " What ? " said I. " Thou hast 

 placed me under lasting obligation to thee for this day's 

 sport. When the heat of the summer's sun hath caused 



