Lake Umbagog, Maine.
1894
Sept. 12
(No. 6)
Outlet Marshes
that of a heavy gust of wind in a grove of pines. It was
an exciting moment for it seems that I had chosen
the very spot where this flock had intended to alight
and as the centre of the column charged directly at
me and their wings closed in around me I
could not help feeling for an instant as if the birds
were about to make a combined onslaught on me.
However I managed to control my nerves sufficiently
to rise quickly and make a successful double shot,
bringing down both Ducks stone dead. Marking them
closely I at once waded towards them for I had
no dog with me and was afraid of losing them in
the darkness. But before I had taken ten steps
I was brought to a stand by the sight of the
swarms of Ducks which filled the air in every direction.
My shots had, of course, raised all the birds that
had been feeding in the marsh and these with the
big flock which had been thrown into hopeless
confusion were flying around in utter bewilderment.
It was too dark for them to notice me although I
was standing erect in a pool of water. Had I wished
I could probably have shot down three or four more
but as it was I contented myself with one additional
bird which fell in the grass beyond the other two
but revealed its exact position by the noise of its
wings as it beat them on the water during its death
flurry.
[margin]Black Duck
shooting[/margin]
  Among the other Ducks I saw what I took to be
a Pin-tail, a very long-necked bird with sharp-pointed
wings and swift flight.
[margin]Pintail[/margin]
  Leopard Frogs by hundreds croaking this evening.
[margin]Leopard
Frogs[/margin]