Lake Umbagog, Maine
1895
Sept.14
(no 3)
hurtling down on set wings and alighting with a great plashing
sat erect & still for a moment & then swam in shore. At
the same moment a violent squall with a dash of rain came
sweeping over the pond. Stooping low I hurried forward and
in less than a minute reached a stub behind which I could
stand erect. Peeping out I saw two birds standing on the mud
close together & at once shot at them. The flock rose in
great confusion when I brought down a single bird. The
two at which I had fired the first barrel lay on the mud
dead but the last bird was only wounded & I had to
fire two more shots to secure it. A fourth hit by some
strong pellet went off badly wounded to my great regret. It
is the first Duck that I have wounded & lost this year
although I have had no dog.