IN SEARCH OF A DUCK.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 13111, 9 May 1908, Page 7

IN SEARCH OF A DUCK.

- _ (Bt Cantekbckt.) It was tho evening of the last day Jof April when somebody, nsked mo where I -was going to shoot a duck next day, and truthfully I answered that I did not know. Ton days before there had been a prospect of a camping expedition to finish the fishing season, with au afterthought of a few ducks on the following day, but tho idea had fallen I through and I was at a loss for • a substitute Perhaps I should not hare been much troubled if the opening day lof the shooting'season had passed un- . recognised, if my friend had not broached the subject, but his remarfcs aroused a desire to slay a duck on May let in spite of every unfavourable circumstance which seemed to bar the way to its fulfilment. I had arranged to give my assistance in laying . out some golf links; that might be postponed. There had been mention of a hockey match of the kind Lucy Linda disapproved of in "The Press" Jast seuson, that might be forgotten. But there was a promise to an absent friend to give delivery of a flock of sheep for him, which could not be broken. As it happened, the sheepowner returned unexpectedly, and-my time, with ■ the trifling exceptions I have named *was f roo. \ . ■ -.. ' , Then came the question .where was there a likelihood of Ending a duck. - To a resident near a home of. wildfowl, like La'ko Ellesmere,. such" a question may seem absurd, but in South Canterbury, in a well-populated; '. re-. gion lacking a big lake as a'stand-by,. it was by no means certain that the ';? game could be found. At tl ,_. a recollection of certain marshy-pools near the Itangitata, and there I'nde-; cided to go, and take mychance^X , . ? To attain the desired end, necessary to be "en route" before day-; light, and so it camp to pass that.my mare, acting as pioneer for the, igig/; and ite' belongings, _ including L myielfjv was. feeling her way in the pitchy, ness^— and shying violently at ; the scrape of timber—a cross-the Upper Rangitata. bridge at 5.30 a.m. There was morethan A «» suspicion; of frost in the ! yxu~-4& W S earthy, it was much warmer and fed the snere under |' tihiek. plemfcation .of against the' dawn dewin a efcebr>-ster- r ;l race, and anrived at ni(y, pTXjpoeeif lurfc-." ing place as lighter streaks an. the eaefc- ; em..sky. heralded the- rising ikm^)^--1^? i ■ It -was c 'most' iformJran. epafe^ta*t : - , l:ifci had chosen, one of a chain, ox rudi-fr&ngbd pools, a spa the roar of tieright, with, th© Weak weaary., left. A swish and "ru^tJ©. bf ■' *S a flight of gr«y me.-and "turned .acted us a warning ; among tlio reeds aad lot ings ■ look after JJereii \§ Waok swans paseed overftea4^ijTriitfc4* I melancholy flute-Jake ; '> ; evidently been. t fired at—and one, lagging .foetband theres^eej6tiWvs- !- -in a Bide creek half a «nile W^--v-A.-'.; most careful stalk, yria undert«Qwiii% but itrwas meedkesy got : the, place .tb, '173*;; cd©c of the water, co f and returned to blood underneath, tie: S .worked -tie - sbray*' shot' brought.him to his end, and >™™ ,f™SKlcd .wi*b;tJie :y.l-.^-U\^-i-^'4 i .rii^i^ ..." A:*duister "frf;: , »pecl«-«un»'"' : «w> raver,v rapidly and spreading tW, BTrept over wiih. :,oatre«iefcoedi%l almost fixed vrmm. : and ;eelves into, a flock of ; fort^i f ducks. 'I took -tiie the pool;• but'imsoed:. ynti&t : :WA::me66aiM bi«el, and the eurvivois spjM^i^.im. , '? .-we-rde- andglacaere. -..■; If '■:! had not they pight.-TOry Iftely—hav©; and, I TOisht: Jja-Te. got-' a < shot, 1 ?*•■ J Pn**"* 1 -my pickediou*-; itsadarM dean kaHed.: v, olowd.* wings and headlong iepleßhT'inifco Hjt&i '■ waier^^ , ; ; y ■■'- : - ■-■. -.; ;;;■>■ i v;.. ; ,- l-i '\Sa ," Rurine iAe next of peTadiee dtod» : -pi^>oat";.- 5 They are'..pirateoiedj but. 4he c protection?! ;is ; .unroeceeawy,' .been taken if .thd ',:haA■■'sß&ti&£& duok rpitcaied une-warce • into ■■>n\froi»t-of-^:- : .^^tey: ; a^;ft!njims ; aiSi : «in 'oai ;^- T --fnorVweet L, i?^ay; Ttere were no fa° k -fe -drives ibe •> *«*tt nules. ori L the .■.'homewanj^■tracfe*- :r .. >"<