A Wild Duck. 65 



pond. The fresh breeze in my face induced me to 

 try to creep down close to the edge of the pond, to 

 see if it were possible to surprise birds there, should 

 I find any on my next hunting trip. Just below me, 

 at the foot of the hill, was a swampy run leading 

 toward the pond, with grass nearly a foot high grow- 

 ing along its edge. I must reach that if possible. 



After a few minutes of watching, the duck went 

 into the grass again, and I started to creep down the 

 hill, keeping my eyes intently on the pond. Halfway 

 down, another cluck appeared, and I dropped flat on 

 the hillside in plain sight. Of course the duck noticed 

 the unusual object. There was a commotion in the 

 grass; heads came up here and there. The next mo- 

 ment, to my great astonishment, full}' fifty black ducks 

 were swimmins: about in the sjreatcst uneasiness. 



I lay very still and watched. Five minutes passed; 

 then quite suddenly all motion ceased in the pond ; 

 every cluck sat with neck standing straight up from 

 the water, looking directly at me. So still were they 

 that one could easily have mistaken them for stumps 

 or peat bogs. After a few minutes of this kind of 

 watching they seemed satisfied, and glided back, a 

 few at a time, into the grass. 



When all were gone I rolled down the hill and 

 gained the run, getting soaking wet as I splashed into 

 it. Then it was easier to advance without being dis- 



