44 The Water-fowl Family 



with now and then a flurry of snow, which is 

 somewhat uncomfortable but welcome. No better 

 day was ever made for brant. There is perhaps 

 half an hour of shivering expectation, but a cer- 

 tainty about it which is more or less warming. 

 Finally a black line appears far out in the bay. 

 It grows bigger, and there is no mistaking it. 

 Now the ronk-r-r-r-ronk is heard. The gunner 

 in the stern calls back, and the birds lead toward 

 the decoys with excited cries. The wind keeps 

 them close to the water, and as they rise it beats 

 them back. There must be fifty in the bunch, 

 and they are near the stool. Now on set wings 

 they sail almost within range, but turn away just 

 as the shot seems sure. They circle back of the 

 blind; again set their wings and head for the 

 stool ; but, suspicious, sheer off and lead toward 

 the farther shore. A second bunch appears from 

 the same direction, taking the same course as the 

 first. They circle about the decoys, and finally, 

 about to turn, an impatient shot rings out, and 

 a bird sags away from the flock, hard hit, to fall 

 dead a hundred yards away. Soon line after line 

 comes into sight from out over the bay, almost in 

 military array. The blind now conceals the boat 

 well, and the birds do not show quite the same 

 hesitation about coming in. Presently twenty or 

 more brant gracefully circle the decoys, and then 

 sail up to within twenty yards of the guns. They 



