m the water, always fly against the
wind, and so, if we only had the pipes on one side, it would only be
when the wind came from that quarter that we could catch any fowl; so
you see we have them from all sides; and thus from whatever point the
wind blows, we have the chance of catching birds. Now, you see those
birds swimming out in the middle of the pond there? They're our
decoy-ducks; without them we could not catch any wild ones either. I
had a good job to train them. You see, the first thing I did was to
shut them up by themselves, and pretty nigh starve them. I then carried
them a little food; and did the same several times every day, till they
knew me. At last they began to look out for me, and, instead of flying
away, they were too glad to come up and take the food from my hand.
Whenever also I fed them, I whistled just a faint whistle, like this.
And so, at last, as soon as they heard my whistle, they knew that I was
going to give them some food, and I kept on whistling all the time they
were feeding in the same gentle tone. It took me, I suppose, three or
four months before I could trust those birds out; and now, if I did not
continue to feed them, and whistle all the time, they would soon be off
with the rest. I had to train the dog, too; and that took me some time.
You see, his business is to run along the edge of the pipe, show
himself now and then, and then leap through those openings in the
screen. Well, to make him do that, I taught him by giving him a piece
of bread each time he came through; and if he would not jump, then he
got no bread and no cheese, for he is fond of cheese, I can tell you.

"Now, you will understand, that if we are to catch any birds, you must
not show yourself; and you, tall gentleman, if you please, will just
keep stooping down all the time. No disrespect to you, master; if they
caught sight of your face, not a bird would come up the pipe.

"Now there's another thing we shall have to do: we must just each of us
carry a piece of lighted turf, for the birds can smell as well as see;
and they don't mind the smoke, and that carries away any scent by which
we might betray ourselves. Now, we will go round to the side from which
the wind blows directly over the pond. Stoop down, master, if you
please. I will first go and fasten the net over the end of the pipe,
that the birds may fly into it, as I hope there will be many of them
doing before long. Here we are, masters: jus