154 GAME SHOAL-WATER FOWL. 



they should be cut considerably longer than 

 sticks • needed for the same depth of water, and 

 one end being pushed down the throat of the 

 duck, it should then be bent sharply just back 

 of the head, and the other end pushed firmly 

 into the mud. 



Mark ! Let them go over. I'll call them down. 

 Coolly, now ; and always take the head ones 

 when coming in from that direction. Glorious ! 

 Every one clean killed. No work for you this 

 time, Jack. By Jove, this kind of sport can't be 

 beat anywhere. They drop their wings and come 

 in so unsuspiciously right in between us here, 

 and they can't get out either, except by " climb- 

 ing " almost straight up ; and as their headway 

 is almost stopped, we can take our time with 

 them. We ought not to miss a shot, but of 

 course some unaccountably bad ones will be made. 

 1 remember doing some most miserable shooting 

 here once, and my partner for the day, usually 

 a better shot "than common, doing the same as I. 

 1 can't explain it to this day, and I sha'h't try. 

 Mark ! Let them go by. Take it cool now, 

 and see how " clean " you can do it. I'll trust 

 you with both of them this time. Steady ! Ah ! 

 that won't do ; you were in too much of a 



