THE WILD GOOSE. 337 



when taken into a field would act just as stated. Winged 

 geese, if placed among the decoys, will remain with them 

 of their own accord, and it is amusing, often, to watch 

 them. When you approach the decoys they will scamper 

 off across the field, and as often return after you are hid- 

 den in your pit or blind; but I never saw or knew of 

 one so situated to call a passing flock, or do anything 

 else but lie flat on the ground when a flock was hovering 

 near. 



Well, I don' t know but what we had better be mov- 

 ing toward the field. By the time we get our pits dug 

 and the decoys set out, it will be time for the geese to be 

 coming out for supper. 



Here we are. You dig your pit here, and I will dig 

 mine over there. Dig it with a seat in one end, and deep 

 enough so that when sitting down your shoulders will be 

 about on a line with the stubble. After your pit is com- 

 pleted, go and get a small armful of that old hay on the 

 edge of the stubble and strew it around the edge 

 of the pit, but not too thickly — just enough to cover 

 the fresh dirt. I have given you the best side, for, as the 

 geese come in over the decoys against the wind, you will 

 be able to swing your gun from right to left instead of 

 the more awkward way, from left to right. 



There, everything is in ship-shape style, as they say 

 on the water, and now if the geese will only make us a 

 few friendly — 



Mark west ! See them, eh ? All right. Now bear in 

 mind what I told you at luncheon. Let them come in if 

 they come this way. 



They didn't come in, did they? though they must have 

 heard me calling. Grot more important business farther 

 east; I saw them go down in a stubble about a mile away. 

 There comes another flock, and there's another right 

 behind it. Get down ! 



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