CHAPTER IX. 



MID-DAY MALLARD SHOOTING FALL. 



We have done very well so far this morn- 

 ing — fifty-three ducks, I believe you said. Now, if 

 you are not tired — and you surely don't look to 

 be — we will try the place I mentioned. It is now 

 about ten o'clock, and we can go there in half 

 an hour, so I think we will have a look at it 

 any way. We leave the boat in the bend just 

 ahead of us, and then we have about a quarter 

 ■ of a mile to walk back into the woods. You 

 can be putting on your rubber boots. 



There, jump out, and take the guns and dun- 

 nag \ Lay them down there on the bank until 

 1 moor the boat ; it's always best when conve- 

 nient, for there may be cattle here in the woods, 

 and 1 have known them to step into boats, when 

 pulled up on the bank, and break through the 

 bottoms of them ; our ducks, too, will be safer 

 from hogs. I never carry an anchor or weight, 

 but simply push the paddle down into the mud 

 as far as possible, and fasten the chain to it. I 



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