The Republican journal., 1906-02-08

made. AS we neared the rock we were
startled by a flash of light ahead, and
through the darkness we dimly made
the form of dory In it were four
men and a dog; one of the men was
lighting a pipe. Evidently this party
wished to be sure of a chance to shoot
from that ledge as they had been wait
ing there an hour and half, and even
now the tide wasn't low enough for
them to attempt landing. OF course
our chance to shoot from the South
West was gone so we turned about and
made for the Bull Cove lodges, a mile
to the eastward. Should good fortune
send party of gunnerS to Brig ledge,
still farther east, our chance at Bull
Cove bar would be good, as they lay be-
tween, and the birds would be sent up
to us from both east and west.
We soon arrived and ran in as near
as prudent, carefully watching out in
the gloom tor d favorable chance to
land The old swell was tumbling
furously onto the ocean 'front.' but in
side we found a sheltered place between
two big boulders, into which we backed
the dory. Oil skins, guns, shells, ETC.,
were quickly put ashore; then we rowed
to the western end of the ledge and set
our decoys some twelve yards out.
Hardly were we ready when the whistle
of wings was heard in the darkness and
two coots dropped down among the
toers ten feet away. They paid not
the slightest attention to us. AS they
struck they splashed the water almost
into our faces, while d third went over
the boat not six feet up. Our guns
were on the rock, so they were safe,
1t was hardly light enough to shoot
haul the boat up among the rocks as
much out of sight as possible. The
painter was carried over the top of the
ledge and we sat Oh it. We didn't care
to take chance of that dory drifting
off. 1t gave US the creeps to think of
what might happen should the boat
leave us.
As we were slowing ourselves away
behind protecting rocks we heard the
painting of naphtha boat and the Rock
launch passed by just outside with
dory in tow. They evidently had been
to the South West and found that oc-
cupied, and as we We're at Bull Cove
they continued on to Brig Ledge.
Flash, flash, bang. bang. went the
guns at South West. They were getting
the birds fast: in the increasing light
we could now SEE a cloud of cootS circle
about the ledge, then string out and
make straight for US. Down they came,
going like a streak before the wind, and
as they saw our tOEerS, turned IN
broad circle Would they go by out of
gun-shot? No, in they came, punched
together and settled: their wings out in
tlutter, legs sticking down, bodies
spread out dat as big as a basket; now
was our chance The guns spoke to-
gether, and as the flock recovered itself
to fly we each gave them the second
barrel.
The dead and wounded birds fell in
punches. Six were still, four were
swimming away. We stopped three OF
these the other being but slightly
wounded went down whenever we fred,
lodging the shot, and was soon out OF
reach.
The ducks now came thick and fast.
Single birds, in pairs, and, occasionally,
in flocks. Dead birds were scattered
about in every direction, and the wind,
which had by now come up to a smart
breeze, with the tide, was rapidly send
ing them to sea. So F. launched
the dory and proceeded to pick them
up. He took his gun, as several
wounded birds were swimming about
and he hoped to get shot at them:
The incoming wind had already kick
ed up sea, and the surrounding rocks
and lodges were breaking feather white.
F. secured the birds close in, and
was rowing farther out when big sea
caught him off his guard and landed his
dory bang. high and dry on the top of a
bunch of rocks. Instinctively he kept
on rowing, but his oars were only Wav-
ing in the air, as by no possibility could
they reach the water. At this moment
a duck went over him. Although in
rather bad scrape, perched up on that
rock, he was game. SEEING his gun ne
let fly; Just then another big sea wash
ed over the rock, picked up the dory
like a feather, and ended it off the ledge
in hurry, much quicker than 1t went
on. 1t piled F., boots up, into the
stern of the boat, but he got his bird.
AS it was now broad daylight the
ducks became shy. Single birds and
pairs would make into the tolers, but
the fiocks went by outside: :,
AS regards good shooting, this had
been, for me, an off morning. l could
| take a bird about to light or when
in the water, but to stop duck fly
ing straight by could not. To miss
bird after bird was discouraging, espec-
tally as F. was doing splendid work:
Several times he, after missed, had
dropped both birds right and left. In
variably shot in behind.
"Get busy" said F.. Here are
two coming straight for us. Brace up,
old man, and stop one of them" On
they came; as they turned l fred, mis-
sing as usual. They punched together
and F. at one shot tumbled both
over in the water. This was too much.
How the dickens do you do it? cried,
as in disgust, I disappeared over the
ledge to pick up bird which the surf
was throwing into the back side. Bang
went F-'s gun again. and duck,
| ,uhirlinn end over end landed ON the