A NOBLE BAG. 271 
were en avant. However, so many duck came within easy 
shooting distance that I could not resist opening fire, and I 
commenced skirmishing forthwith. The birds appeared 
totally devoid of fear, either of the report of my gun or my 
presence, and flew frequently within fifteen or twenty yards 
in the most leisurely and business-like manner. Again and 
again I loaded and shot, till my barrels got agreeably warm. 
Old Nep, my retriever, soon had the ground around my 
feet thickly strewn with slain, and when an unfortunate 
duck, less severely peppered than others, or only broken- 
winged, would attempt to hobble off, Master Nep would 
give him a pinch about the regions of the cranium that im- 
mediately reduced the most obstreperous to submission. 
Geese commenced to arrive after I had been at work about 
half an hour; first a solitary gander, whose coat I dusted 
and secured, next two or three, and ultimately half-dozens 
and dozens, while the duck whistled by with all the velocity 
of sky-rockets. By 4 p.m. my powder-flask commenced to 
show signs of giving out, and with sickly, hollow rattle pro- 
claimed that the remaining charges were few. To prolong 
the sport, I reduced my charges ; but still the end was draw- 
ing near, and could only be delayed a few minutes, for with 
regret, though the snow was now falling fast and the 
weather any thing but enjoyable, I was brought to a halt. 
On collecting the spoil, I had nineteen geese and forty-one 
ducks, a load sufficient for a Canadian pony. However, I 
managed to stow them all in a fence corner, there to remain 
till sent for, and most unwillingly I turned toward home. 
My last view of the field was of broad-bills, in ever increas- 
ing regiments, rushing on to the devoted crop, and I have 
little doubt, if my ammunition had lasted, that I could 
have shown a score that had seldom previously been 
made. 
