The daily Alaskan., 1905-11-20
B R E A K
 O. D 4 y

euSl d SNt"N VI S"'N
 ing day.
 The giant pines stood grim and black against the sky, and the little group of log shelters seemed timid pygmieo rcstlmg beneath them for protection. There was a touch of frost in the air which set the mans teeth Chattering. He picked up his gun and strode brisk Iy through the underbrush toward the little pond some rods back of the camp. If was an ideal morning for black duckS. and unless he was vastly mis- taken, he told himself, there should be quite a flock of them padding about the pond. He damned a shell into el' ther barrel of the gun, and, snappmg the breech shut, he began to move eau tiously through the woods, carefully avoiding the broken twigs lest the noise of his footsteps should alarm his quarry.
 The last few yards between tue camp and the pond he covered on his hands and knees, creeping silently forward and pausing now and then to peer through the half light and listen in- teutIy.
 When finally he reached the pond the band of gold along the eastern horizon had widened, and the light was consid- erably stronger. There were the ducks, lust as he had expected, In the mid dle of the pond was large flock, while close at hand dozen black figures lay quietly on the surface of the water.
 Very cautiously he raised the gun, took long, cool aim at the nearest birds and pulled the right barrel. To his unbounded amuzemcnt not a bird rose from the nearest group. The large flock in the midi'e of the pond rose with a great Tapping of wings and hoarse Crouks of alarm. He fired at them with the left barrel, but the dis tance was too great for the shot to in- hlct any apparent damage on the re- treating flock.
 He jumped to his feet and stood staring at the dozen black dots still motlouless on the water. To his inf nlte chagrin, he discovered that those twelve mOtiOulcSs figures were canvas decoys, two of them with gaping sides where his shot had told. He had vast ed his ammunition on the Gccoys, whiIe the ducks themselves had flown away unharmed.
 As he turned diSgustadly from the pond a peal of merry laughter echoed from the undcrbrusl. He made his way toward the sound and baLa.d Miss Cuyler seated on the ground, a gun across her knees and tears 0. merr'- ment streaming down her face. Pres ton stared at her in amaZel helpless. ness.
 You here? he muttcred increduIous- ly.
 The girl held her sides.
 "I made m early start for black ducks, toO," she explained, "aud while I was waiting for the flock to come in nearer you came stalking along and and She went into another sp0sm of merrimcnt. "I camel saw-and, oh. I heardr she gaspcd, brcathiess from laughter.
 You hcardT' Preston said in dis may. q didn't really Intend to say that. It slipped out before l thought
 "I sec" she said moclingIy. You'd better get the punt and fish out those damaged dccoys, or the story of your adventure may get a"0uul'
 Preston turned to her quos.ioningiy
 Aren't you gong to tell the story to rho camp:" he asked. No" she said .miliugly.
 IIc looked at her with Un3jaguise' .e!!ef.
 You gre a truu9" he said CT llaGca'y.
 SA, l@u.hcI llg.tlr.
 "S9 long a5 I've frightened all inc 'u.Es out O. the vicinity with my can a.aaliu= 1 suppose yc nay as well 9 back to camp for breaI,ca-t," he s1g- .nSte.l.
 He helped her to her feet, and they rudgcd back through the UnlcrbrJsh Preston noted that sLn was doubly pretty with her short Sk'"t and shoot ing jacket and the frosty air bringing put the color in her cheeks. And O! ,ourse. he told himself bitterly. it must needs be before her of HI women ln the world that he hud made aI idiot Of himself.
 Halfway back to camp the girl turn ed to him impuISively.
 I'm going to make q confession" she said.
 They paused under a tall pine. The first rays of the sun were lighting the tree tops.
 You didn't blow holes in both those decoys," she said. "I fixed the first one just as you did an hour before you came. It was very dark then, you sec" she added by way of cZtcnuauon.
 You took a shot at the decOys, tool" he cried.
 She nodded slowly.
 You are very generous to tell me that" he said. with considerable warmth.
 Its only fair to tell you" she said, and then added: You looked so funny, and it would make such a beautiful story to tell the camp. Now you have a story on me equally as good. That will hold my tongue in check"
 Preston looked at her gratefully.
 'Tll tell you what let's do," he said