138 CURRITUCK MARSHES. 



being retrieved by our four legged companion, Wil- 

 liam sagely remarked: 



" I have observed that generally there is some 

 misfortune connected with what would make the 

 finest shots, and that at such times something is sure 

 to go wrong ; either the birds do not come in right, 

 or a twig or reed gets in front of you, the gun misses 

 fire, or something else happens, so that the best 

 chances usually prove the worst." 



" There is an awful deal in luck," I replied, "after 

 all is said, Napoleon's star was not an imaginary 

 planet by any means. I never was a lucky sports- 

 man, and have had to earn my game by the sweat of 

 my brow." 



" Did you ever know a sportsman who would ad- 

 mit that he was lucky ?" inquired William, calmly. 



"I can't say that I ever did ; but if you will keep 

 still and not fluster me with unnecessary generaliza- 

 tions, I will kill that pair of widgeons that are com- 

 ing over the marsh, luck or no luck." 



After uttering that boast, I had to make my words 

 good, and though I detected a twinkle in my com- 

 panion's eye, as if he would not mind should I hap- 

 pen to miss J ust that once, I took care to aim straight, 

 not. the sort of excessive care that invariably results 

 in a miss, but the rapid and confident deliberation 

 that first holds the gun right and then pulls it off 

 when it is right, without waiting until it gets wrong. 



" Good," said William, sotto voce, in his quiet way, 

 as the two ducks, doubled up by the full charge of 

 shot came down splash into the mud, close to our 



