Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-10-20

time old boy" says Joe, as he steadies tn,
skiff, 'Shell rise next time about in thi:
clear water if ana not mistaken" 'Shoo
at the first signs of water breaking-don'
wait for her head"-''it will be up BY the
time your shot gets there-"See. quick
Bang Yes, you've got her this time sure,
and good snap shot it was too
Three wood duck and two black ones we
| consider not 80 bad for an hours work
| suggest that we get in out of sight and wait
awhile, so padding ashore we draw the
| boat well in among the tall reeds and wait
Developments. Joe had just begun one of
his yarns about shooting muskrats on Dead
River, which, by the way, he had told ME al
| least seven different times before-when We
hear two guns in quick succession over to
| the west in the direction of Greedy Pond,
and In moment more we see a black bunch
in the air cireling off to the south. Joe for
gets all about 'musquash" and watches them
without word Soon they wheel and come
nearer and it is evident they intend to come
| to Little Togus. Down we get as close as
possible, almost holding our breath as we
hear the rustic of their wings over our
heads, they circle twice, then skirt the tops
of the reeds on the east side and pitch into
the pond with that good natured twtter so
full of meaning to the duck hunter, for he
knows they have come to stay and feel
at home. Joe insists upon my
going along the east side of the pond and
getting shot, as they sit on the water, and
as he won't go, | grasp my gun and wade
ashore, keeping well down After working
down a tall bush in direct range from the
birds, run, walk and crawl alternately, un-
til was well up to my mark, then cautiously
creeping up through the reeds | see about 40
yards away flock of black duck-nine in
number = with four ''widgeon' and one
'.broad-bill," which they had picked up
somewhere in their travels.
had good cover, and as realized it was
my opportunity of the season, | waited for
them to bunch. 1t was aggravating to see
them work they seemed to know what |
wanted and were determined not to accommo-
date me. But patient walters are no losers,
and soon | had four black ducks and the
"broad-bill well together on the left In less
time than it takes to tell it, had let go the
right barrel and swung my left onto the
rest of the flock as they arose in wild
confusion. 1t was snap shot, but
l dropped two, though | could see
through the smoke that one was only winged
and was padding off for dear life. Quickly
throwing out my old shells got in pair of
As and hastily covering her, pulled and
stopped her fairly in her tracks. Joe soon
made his appearance with the skif and TAX
ing me in we picked up four black ducks
and the big "broadbill' making our total
bag for the morning six black, three wood
ducks and one broadbill or shoveler.
Joe was just wild with delight and
wouldn't listen to staying ont any longer, re-
marking that to shoot all day with such luck
would fairly exterminate the birds. So after
another pull at the lunch basket we packed
up our game, loaded on the skiff and in an
hour more were at home exhibiting the best
bunch of birds of the season.
Joe still insists that the next time he gets
me in duck blind he will tell me that old
muskrat story or die.