MID-DAY MALLARD SHOOTING FALL. 151 



others are making over* it ! There, just look by 

 the tree, and see what a lot of them there are. 

 Down, Jack ! What comfort they appear to be 

 taking ; it almost seems a pity to disturb them. 

 "Why, the slough is almost full. 1 suppose you 

 have picked out the thickest cluster, and are im- 

 patient to shoot. But no, that won't do ; you 

 might perhaps get ten or a dozen with both bar- 

 rels, but you would very likely spoil our shooting 

 for the rest of the day. We mustn't tell this 

 big body of ducks that we have guns here, or 

 they won't be very likely to come back ; but I'll 

 just step out and put them up without alarming 

 them too much, and then they will return again 

 shortly, a few at a time ; and, from the large num- 

 ber here now, I judge we will be kept pretty 

 busy taking care of them. If it was later in the 

 day, it might be to our advantage to try a sit- 

 ting-shot, as there might then be enough come back 

 to last us the rest of the day, and we would have 

 those killed at the first fire for decoys ; but just 

 now I think we had better wait. 



Halloo ! What a flapping and quacking ! You 

 go round to the right, and wade out, most to 

 the edge of. the open water. 1 will go round 

 the other way, and take a stand opposite to 



