As though at
a preconcerted signal each duck dropped his legs, threw back his head,
opposed to momentum the breadth of his wings and tail. An indescribable
and sudden rushing sound smote the air. The flock, its course arrested,
hung motionless above the decoys in the attitude of alighting.

At this precise instant Mr. Kincaid, without haste, smoothly got to his
feet. Involuntarily Bobby arose also. Curly, who up to this instant had
even kept his yellow eyes closed, put his forepaws on the gunwale, and
craned his neck upward the better to see.

Immediately with a mighty beating of wings the ducks "towered." It was
almost incredible, the rapidity with which, from a dead stand, they
broke into the swiftest flight--and straight up. Bobby could see them
plainly, in every detail, the beautiful iridescent green heads of the
drakes, stretched eagerly upward, the dove and the cinnamon of the
breasts, the white bellies snowy against the sky. The gun spoke twice.
Instantly three of the outstretched necks seemed to wilt. For a brief
moment the bodies hung in the air; then plunged downward with increasing
speed until they hit with an inspiring _splash, splash, splash!_ that
threw the water high. There they floated belly up. The orange-coloured
leg of one kicked slowly twice.

"Mallard!" said Mr. Kincaid with satisfaction.

Curly looked inquiringly at his master, then dropped back to his former
position in the bottom of the boat. Bobby settled himself on his
shell-box----

Swish!----he peered out startled and there among the decoys swam a dozen
little ducks, their heads up, their brights eyes glancing suspiciously
from one to another of their stolid wooden relations. Before Bobby could
realize that they were there, they had made up their minds; and, with
the same abruptness that had characterized their arrival, sprang into
the air and departed. Not, however, before Mr. Kincaid had shot.

"Only one," said he. "They're a lively proposition."

"What are they?" asked Bobby.

"Teal. They often fly low just over the marsh, and drop in unexpectedly
like that."

Daylight was full and broad now; and the sun was rising. With it came
the first signs of wind. Ducks filled the air in all directions, some
circling about other ponds; others winging their way in long flights
toward distant feeding grounds. Every few moments Mr. Kincaid had a shot
as some of these dropped to the decoys. Sometimes they came down boldly
in an attempt to ali