The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-03-26
THE TIMFS-RICHMOND VA. SUNDAY. MARCH % 1888,

| slant for another turn; that gives me the
chance. and drop the first one: the other
makes the turn. towers; / wheel, ana "a
he passcs bring him down with the sec
ond barrel My two first cartridges are
accounted for.
Our next shots were at flock OF swan.
We saw them coming. and Waterneld 8
accomplishments were again called INTO
requisition. Co hooy. co hooy. hoo, moo.
HOB tooy. This is as near the call as l
can write IL. The notes OF tho large
water. fowl, swan and geese. seem to be
made up almost exclusively OF vowels.
while those Of the smaller varieties. ducks
and teal, are composed of consonarts.
They responded and passed within a
hundred yards OF US: when we saw them
coming we had changed our cartridges.
shipping into our barrels couple. heavily
charged with ''rs." Letting them pass,
for It is useless shooting at them in front.
we poured In a volley. hoping by lucky
shot to bring one down. At the report l
noted one give way, and slowly sinking.
he fell a quarter OF a mile beyond us,
splashing the water ten feet In the air.
We saw him turn over upon his side on
striking the water, and knew him TO be
mortally wounded, but he gave Waterfield
a long and tedious chase before he was
retrieved. We spent the day in the blind.
and unanimously negauved proposal
from the guide to adjourn for dinner. The
fascination about point shooting is that
you don't know when your game Is going
TO come within shot, nor what Ii Is going
10 be until II comes. and he is a poor
sportsman who would not sacrifice HIS
dinner for a chance OF a shot at a can
vas back. And so we wore out the day
getting an occasional shot, and happy in
the hope Of getting another.
When our sport ended, our bag, to my
thinking, was most satisfactory, though
I was assured by Gray that It was far
below the average. This was due to the
fact that the ducks were badly scattered,
and rendered very wild by the protracted
freeze which had just broken up. But
ten canvas backs, three red heads, one
black mallard. two swan and one goose.
to a fellow whose ambition had hitherto
been satisfied with dozen quail or snipe,
was most gratifying.
Now reader / have told you where to
find canvas backs and how TO kill them:
IL only remains To tell you how to cook
and serve them. In doing this l can't
do better than to quote from the greatest
sportsman OF my generation. Frank
Forester. / quote from memory:
do not insult this noble fowl by any
attempt to destroy his natural flavor with
pungent condiments. Strip him OF his
regal robes, carefully draw him and wipe
the body dry. stuff him with a little
chopped celery and bread crumbs, then
keep him in a hot oven eighteen minutes,
not second longer, when taken out he
Will be golden brown. and he will not
stain your daintiest CHINA Decant O bot
tie OF your choicest Madeira, no meaner
wine is worthy of such meat. Send for
the friend of your soul; he who most has
your confidence, and with whose tastes
your own are most congenial. Your din
ner Is on the table; fix your fork firmly
on one side and, holding II vertically, cut
down parallel with the breast bone: work.
ing your blade deftly you pass through
the wing and thigh joints, and one half
the bird is separated from the frame
AS you pluck the envious steel away
mark how the blood of Caesar follows
1t. This is the sauce that nature has
provided for her favorite dainty, 1t gushes
out In a generous tide.
Seek not to improve perfection, and so
dear reader / leave you"
/ have tried TO take you with me in
fancy through one of the red-letter
episodes Of a sportsman's life. May we
have the opportunity one day OF realizing
1t together. We will have sport that
Kings might envy and we will dine SUI
premely.