owever, we resolved should become our
prize, and again lowering our sail we all three fired. As the smoke
cleared off, however, there swam the swan, stately as before, and
apparently uninjured, making for the reeds I have mentioned.

"We must have that fellow, at all events," cried Alick. "Paddle away,
Robin and Martin; we shall be soon up to him."

While they obeyed the order, I reloaded, determined not again to miss
the swan.

"Wait a moment," said Alick; "he's still rather far off."

"If I wait, he'll get into the reeds. Do let me fire," I answered. But
Alick did not give the word, and as we had all agreed to obey him
implicitly, I, of course, would not set a bad example, though I felt
sure that I could hit the swan.

The bird turning round its long neck saw us coming, and immediately,
aided by its wings as well as its feet, with a loud cry darted into an
opening among the reeds.

"We shall have him still," cried Alick; "paddle away! paddle away!"

Laying down my gun, I seized a paddle, and in another minute we had
reached the reeds where the swan had disappeared.

"Now, Bouncer, see what you can do," cried Alick. The faithful old dog
did not require to receive a second order, but plunging bravely
overboard, dashed into the reeds, and struggled energetically forward
amid them, with leaps and bounds, though he had no firm ground on which
to place his feet. We watched eagerly for the bird, which we felt sure
from Bouncer's movements could not be far off.

A large tree grew close to the bank, its roots reaching the water. We
urged the canoe forward, and presently up rose the swan, no longer
presenting the same graceful appearance it did in the water. Though its
wings were powerful enough to lift it in the air, its body had a
remarkably heavy, awkward appearance.

Bouncer would in another instant have seized it, and have had cause to
repent doing so, but the bird rose just beyond reach of his jaws. I
lifted my gun and fired, as did Robin. Neither Martin nor Alick, on
account of the tree, could take aim. With a loud cry the swan flew off,
its white body glittering in the sun; but it had not gone far when down
it came with a heavy flop on the reeds. Bouncer dashed forward to seize
it. We, finding that the water was deep enough to allow us to make our
way through the reeds, pushed the canoe in between them, thoughtless of
any snags or branches which might tear a hole in her thin coating.

We had go