led with the crossing lines of their
flight, until Bobby's eyes were bewildered, and he could not tell
whether he saw blackbirds near at hand or ducks farther away. Whence
they had come or whither they were going he could not guess; but that
they had some definite objective he could not doubt. Out from the gray
distances of the east they appeared; laboured by against the gale; and
disappeared into the red distances of the west.

Now the evening flight of ducks was on in earnest, and the warm
excitement of decoy-shooting again gripped hard all three occupants of
the boat. Over the wide marshes spread the brief crimson of evening. The
sun set and dusk came on. It was first indicated, even before a
perceptible diminution of daylight, by the vivid flashes from the gun.
Then the low western horizon turned to a dark band between sky and
water, and the heavens immediately above took on a pale green lucence of
infinite depth.

"More wind," said Mr. Kincaid, glancing at it.

Finally, although it was still possible plainly to see the incoming
ducks against the sky, Mr. Kincaid laid aside his gun and picked up the
punt-pole.

"Mustn't shoot much after sun-down," he told Bobby. "If we do, there
won't be any here in the morning. Nothing drives the duck off the
marshes quicker than evening shooting."

He pushed the duck-boat out into the open. Instantly the weight of the
wind became evident. Although on the lea side of the pond, the light
boat drifted forward rapidly; and Bobby had to snatch suddenly for his
cap. Mr. Kincaid snubbed her at the edge of the flock of decoys.

"Pick 'em up, Bobby," said he. "You'll have to do it, while I hold the
boat."

Bobby lifted the nearest decoy out of the water and, under direction,
wound the anchor line around its neck and stowed it away. This was easy.
Also the next and the next.

But by the time he had lifted the tenth he had discovered a number of
things. That a wooden decoy is heavy to lift at arm's length over the
gunwale; that it brings with it considerable water; that the anchor
lines carry with them a surprisingly greater quantity of water; that the
water is very cold; that said cold water causes the flesh to puff up,
the hands to turn numb, and the fingers to ache. This was disagreeable;
and Bobby had not been in the habit of continuing to do things after
they had become disagreeable.

"My, but this is awful cold work!" said he.

Mr. Kincaid looked at him.

"You aren't goi