1 68 TV ays of Wood Folk. 



the bushes too much. That would have frightened 

 the incoming duclcs, as Don knew very well. 



It grew dark and bitterly cold. No birds were fly- 

 ing, and I had stood up a moment to let the blood 

 down into half-frozen toes, when a shadow seemed to 

 pass over my head. The next moment there was a 

 splash, followed by loud quacks of alarm from the 

 decoy. All I could make out, in the obscurity under 

 the ridge, was a flutter of wings that rose heavily from 

 the water, taking my duck with them. Only the 

 anchor string prevented the marauder from getting 

 away with his booty. Not wishing to shoot, for 

 the decoy was a valuable one, I shouted vigorously, 

 and sent out the dog. The decoy dropped with a 

 splash, and in the darkness the thief got away — just 

 vanished, like a shadow, without a sound. 



Poor ducky died in my hands a few moments later, 

 the marks of sharp claws telling me plainly that the 

 thief was an owl, though I had no suspicion then 

 that it was the rare winter visitor from the north. I 

 supposed, of course, that it was only a great-horned- 

 owl, and so laid plans to get him. 



Next night I was at the same spot with a good 

 duck call, and some wooden 'decoys, over which the 

 skins of wild ducks had been carefully stretched. An 

 hour after dark he came again, attracted, no doubt, 

 by the continued quacking. I had another swift 



