176 WILD SPORTS OF THE HIGHLANDS chap. 



however, and on our giving a low whistle they ran together, 

 preparatory to rising ; this was our moment : only one of my 

 barrels went off, the other having got wet through, copper cap 

 and everything, during our progress in the ditch. We, however,, 

 bagged three birds, and another flew wounded away, and at last 

 fell close to the sea-shore, where we afterwards found her. 

 Having collected our game, I was not sorry to walk off home 

 in double-quick time to put a little caloric into my limbs, as I 

 felt perfectly benumbed after wading for such a distance in a 

 cold March wind. 



On our way home we saw an immense flock of geese alight 

 to feed on a small field of newly-sown peas. Simon was de- 

 lighted, and promised me a good shot in the morning, if I left 

 him at the nearest farm-house to take his own steps towards 

 ensuring me the chance. 



Accordingly the next morning, at daylight, I went with him 

 to the spot : the geese were still resting on the sands, not having 

 yet made their morning meal. In the very centre of the pea- 

 field Simon had constructed what he called an " ambush " ; this 

 was a kind of hut, or rather hole in the ground, just large enough 

 to contain one person, whose chin would be on a level with the 

 field. The ground was rather rough, and he had so disposed 

 the clods of earth that I was quite invisible till the geese came 

 within a yard or two of me. Into this hole he made me worm 

 myself, while he went to a hedge at some distance, for the chance 

 of the birds coming over his head after I had fired. The sun 

 was not yet up when I heard the cackle of the geese, and soon 

 afterwards the whole flock came soaring over my head ; round 

 and round they flew, getting lower every circle. I could several 

 times have fired at single birds as they flew close by me, and 

 so well concealed was I with clods of earth, dried grass, etc., 

 that they never suspected my presence in the midst of their 

 breakfast-table. Presently they all alighted at the farthest end 

 of the field from me, and commenced shovelling up the peas in 

 the most wholesale manner. Though the field was small, they 

 managed to feed from one end to the other without coming 

 within sixty yards of me; having got to the end of the field, they 

 turned round, and this time I saw that they would pass within, 

 shot. Suddenly they all halted, and I saw that something had 

 alarmed them ; I looked cautiously out, and saw, in the direc-i 



