202 
DUCK-SHOOTING. 
same last and forlorn liope. He liad firmly fixed a 
boat-hook on the highest ridge of sand, and haying 
lashed himself to it with his handkerchief, had 
determined there to await the rising of the last tide 
he was ever destined to behold. The bodies of his 
companions were never seen again, and had probably 
found a resting-place in the deep channels of the 
surrounding sea. 
Not far from the scene of this sad story, on the 
Cheshire side of the mouth of the river Dee, runs a 
ridge of three small rocky islands, called Great 
Helbree, Little Helbree, and at the southern ex- 
tremity, at a somewhat greater distance, forming the 
termination of the ridge, the Little Eye. At low 
water, the passage between these rocks and the 
main land is entirely dry. At this time, therefore, 
those who were inclined to take the chance of one 
single shot, for a second loading was out of the 
question, bent their way to the Little Eye, and took 
possession of a sort of excavated hovel, where, under 
cover of a few rough stones piled together, they were 
prepared to remain till high water ; when, if they 
were fortunate (but this was by no means to be 
calculated upon with anything like certainty), 
a floating flock of Ducks and other sea-fowl would 
drift within reach, and a well-directed fire might do 
prodigious execution. 
We have heard of we know not how many dozens 
of birds killed or disabled by this solitary broadside : 
whether the birds have retired from this part of 
the river, or the patience of the Duck-shooters has 
been exhausted, we cannot say; but of late years 
the sport seems to have been discontinued. 
