A DAY WITH THE SWANS. 



r 95 



" Very neat, my boy. Just put in a shell 

 and get ready. Here come 2 more." 



In a moment there were before us 2 can- 

 vasbacks, and 3 shots made them ours. 

 Two spoon-bills next came along and I sur- 

 prised myself by making a neat double. 



" Put in some No. i's," whispered my 

 companion. " Here comes a swan." 



Sure enough a single bird was rapidly 

 nearing the decoys, having come from an 

 unexpected quarter. A shot from Charlie 

 brqught him to water and another for safety 

 secured the bird to us. Several more small 

 flocks of canvasbacks shortly made their 

 appearance, their dashing forms making 

 glad our eyes and the sound of their rush • 

 ing wings music for our ears. Some we 

 got and some we did not get. Some fell in 

 the open water and some would not give up 

 until they lay on the ice. 



After awhile the sun came out, the clouds 

 chased each other over the horizon and we 

 were treated to a perfect day. A little cold, 

 to be sure, but not so chilly as to prevent 

 our enjoying the picture nature presented 

 to our eyes. In front of us, with fleecy 

 mists rising from the vales, stretched the 

 Scappoose mountains, the tops of the ever- 

 green forests capped with winter's garb. 

 About us on the island was a little green, 

 and the varied colored trees and shrubs 

 contrasted not unpleasantly with the snow. 



Looking over my shoulder, his hoary 

 head towering far above the evergreen clad 

 foot-hills, I saw Mt. St. Helens. The crown 

 and sides of this beautiful mountain are 

 clothed in eternal snow, to which the late 

 storm had given an added sheen. 



"Listen! didn't you hear a swan?" 



" Yes, there they come; South and high." 



Far up in the blue and half a mile South 

 of us we discovered the approaching flock. 

 They seemed a dark line so far away, but 

 the few notes that caught my ears disclosed 

 their identity. If there be one thing on 

 which I pride myself it is my ability to 

 " talk swan." Setting my dulcet tones 

 afloat we quickly changed shells, peering 

 the while through the interstices of our 

 blind. Lower and lower came the birds, 

 but they detected the decoys of our friends 

 on the other lake and kept on in that direc- 

 tion. Again came that weird call from the 

 South. Again did I persuade them with 

 honeyed swan words; told them in their 

 own language of beds of succulent wapa- 

 toes; of placid waters and perfect safety. 



This time they came to us. They were a 

 little shy, or perhaps we were a trifle anx- 

 ious, for, when the vapor from our shots 

 was dispelled, we found but 2 dead birds. 



" Well, we must do better than that, 

 Charlie. Somebody wobbled off that 

 time." 



After noon they came better; sometimes 

 in flocks and sometimes in pairs or singles. 

 Some succumbed to my persuasive tones 

 while others passed on. 



Sometimes as the white robed beauties 

 were wheeling about our blind, just a little 

 out of range and just a little too suspicious 

 to come within the deadly circle, small de- 

 tachments of canvasbacks would drop in on 

 us in a most aggravating manner. 



Once in a while ducks obligingly came in 

 when we had no fear of disturbing possible 

 swans. Sometimes we got them and again 

 we did not. 



As the number of dead birds before us in- 

 creased, we speculated as to our ability to 

 carry them to the house boat. One can 

 carry 20 or more ducks without much in- 

 convenience, but when swans are included 

 in the bag each of the big fellows exerts 

 quite an influence in the matter of weight. 



" Say old man," said my companion, 

 " we have 6 swans down and at least 12 

 ducks. Now if we get another swan or 2 

 some one will have to go after the wagon." 



While thus speculating we again heard 

 the sound of approaching game. The flock 

 came in our direction with gently declining 

 flight. 



By the time the birds were over the lake 

 they were within gunshot of its surface, 

 and in response to my croaks and calls they 

 came fairly at us. Several were in advance 

 of the main flock and dut came their black 

 legs preparatory to settling on the water. 



" Now," said I, in a low voice, with one 

 eye on the birds and the other on my com- 

 panion. With that one eye I saw Charlie 

 was ready and watching for me to arise. 

 With the other glance I noted that the 

 larger part of the flock were on the heels of 

 the advance and would be within gunshot 

 in an instant. " Now, Charlie," and I was 

 up with the deadly tubes leveled. 



Four quick but careful shots went forth 

 into that plunging clump of white, and the 

 flock departed minus as many of its mem- 

 bers. 



" Now we'll just have to get that wagon," 

 said my companion. 



It was nearly dark and, as we had a num- 

 ber of birds to retrieve in the tough ice, I 

 set out to procure the vehicle. Some men 

 were soon met with, and one of them went 

 for the conveyance. During my absence 

 Charlie got another swan and several 

 ducks. While retrieving birds with the 

 boat another flock of swans came along, 

 out of which I tumbled a member. 



A dozen beauties we had and with a nice 

 little bunch of ducks, mostly canvasbacks, 

 we voted the day a success and the game 

 worth the candle. Arriving at the float, we 

 learned that our companions had secured 2 

 or 3 swans and a fine bag of ducks. 



The great flocks of swans still visit their 

 old haunts every autumn, but for a short 

 time only. No food is found and they go 

 down to the brackish water where vege- 

 table matter is plenty and German carp are 

 unknown. There, if the sportsman wants 

 the swans, he must follow them. 



