MALLABB— TIMBER SHOOTING. II3 



to kill; but after you fired at the drake, and the smoke 

 cleared away, the duck had too much the start of you, 

 and consequently got away. Bear this in mind here- 

 after, that when two ducks come in, in killing distance, 

 always shoot the one farther away first. I am going 

 to leave you, now, right in this blind. I have placed 

 you where the ducks are, and it would be ungenerous 

 on your part to expect me to kill them, — -you must do 

 that. By the way, please keep secret this place ; it's a 

 favorite one of mine. I found it two years ago, and 

 right in this very place, at that time, an inexperienced 

 shot and myself bagged 106 mallards in two days. 



