1 66 



RECREA TION. 



quite unconcernedly twisted its neck — 

 very generously putting it in my bag. 



" How did you happen to see it so 

 quickly ?" I asked. 



" By keeping ray eyes peeled; and 

 now, Mrs. B., you must listen and 

 watch tumble clost, n'be ready to shoot 

 when we git to the lake yender. They're 

 purty wild out here. I never knowed a 

 bird so spry 'bout hearing as they be." 



On the edge of lake St. Clair the 

 first glance startled me and electrified 

 us both. In the distance and going 

 ahead of us were millions (it seemed to 

 my unaccustomed eyes) of bona-fide 

 ducks. They were swimming peacefully 

 on. The whole surface of the lake, in 

 that direction, was covered with fantas- 

 tic designs in ducks. Crescents, lines, 

 hollow squares, platoons ; then three or 

 four companies joining formed a com- 

 plete batallion — an immense, ragged 

 procession, the younger members of 

 which, to keep from straggling too far 

 behind, kept up at intervals a half-fly- 

 ing, half-paddling gait, leaving long sil- 

 very streaks in the water behind. That 

 was a sight indeed to shake one's 

 nerves; but this time I was perfectly 

 cool, until Hank deliberately turned the 

 boat away and through the reeds> when 

 1 lost my head again and nearly lost my 

 balance. 



*' Aren't we going to shoot ?" I whis- 

 pered, in dismay. ' Sh-h," w r as the only 

 answer, as cautiously and swiftly he 

 pushed along a considerable distance, 

 before explaining that the flock was out 

 of range ; but knowing the bend they 

 would be likely to follow, he hoped by 

 taking this short cut to head them off. 

 They were fast swimmers, and ours was 

 slow work, though we pushed with all 

 our might through the thick clumps of 

 sedge. And to hamper me, my blouse 

 sailor collar was working up outside of 

 my mackintosh ; the latter was becom- 

 ing exceedingly warm ; my heavy car- 

 tridge bag was resting on top of my 

 feet, and these I dared not move for 

 fear of jarring my half-cocked gun, 

 which rested beside them. 



I said to myself, " Mrs. B., should 

 you get a dozen brace of ducks you 

 shall have well earned them, even 

 though you don't shoot them." Of 

 course, though, I expected to accom- 

 plish wonders. Before getting quite out 

 of the reeds, Hank motioned me to 



hurry, as they were leaving our range 

 again. Now, thought I, is my time to 

 show Hank what a woman can do, for, 

 with a whole flock to shoot into, I surely 

 couldn't help getting some. There was 

 even a chance of the scattering shot 

 hitting a few for luck, should I miss my 

 aim. So, when he said " ready," we let 

 go. Bang! bang! said Hank's gun, 

 then bang ! again. I pulled on my left 

 trigger. No sound. I pulled again, 

 most frantically, now, and still continued 

 to pull, while 1 felt myself growing very 

 warm all over. Then I found my wits, 

 and the right trigger. Bang ! at last, 

 but nothing dropped ; and I saw the 

 last of the procession rising higher and 

 going farther away, executing right and 

 left obliques in fine style, but never a 

 halt, in their mid-air parade. 



As I stood trying to convince myself 

 that they were really out of range, Hank 

 drawled, " Too late, too far," and pre- 

 pared to go out for his find. 



" Why didn't you let fly when I did, 

 Mrs. B " ? 



"Why, I tried to and my gun wouldn't 



go." 



We examined the break, and found 

 that the empty shell, from the mud-hen 

 episode had not been replaced by a 

 new cartridge in the left barrel, whose 

 trigger I always pulled first. How 

 idiotic I was ; and still hoping to be- 

 come a duck-shooter ! To have failed 

 with such a chance ! I could shoot and 

 I knew it, but luck was against me to- 

 day surely ; and feeling great pity for 

 myself, I may as well confess that I 

 made a voluntary contribution to the 

 lake, in the form of several, large wet 

 tears. 



Hank tried in his rough, good-natured 

 way to console me, saying many a man 

 he had taken out, had, in fear, actually 

 held on to the boat with both hands, 

 and they never turned out to be good 

 shots, usually buying their game on the 

 way home. He evidently intended to 

 convince me that because I hadn't clung 

 to the boat, there was still hope of my 

 success. 



I accepted his rough sympathy, but 

 positively refused his ducks — four fine 

 fellows. 



I felt now that the chances of getting 

 anything were very slim. Hank gave 

 me a few instructions. 



" If they are flying ahead of you, 



