hought
I'd got two little charges of number eight, and that to shoot at ducks
at fifteen rod wasn't nauthen. Well, then, I fell a thinkin', and then I
sairched my pockets, and arter a piece found two green cartridges of
number three, as Archer gave me in the Spring, so I drawed out the small
shot, and inned with these, and put fresh caps on to be sarten. But jest
when I'd got ready, the ducks had floated down with the stream, and
dropped behind the pint--so I downed on my knees, and crawled, and Dash
along side on me, for all the world as if the darned dog knowed; well, I
crawled quite a piece, till I'd got under a bit of alder bush, and then
I seen them--all in a lump like, except two--six ducks and a big drake--
feedin', and stickin' down their heads into the weeds, and flutterin' up
their hinder eends, and chatterin' and jokin'--I could have covered them
all with a handkercher, exceptin' two, as I said afore, one duck and the
little drake, and they was off a rod or better from the rest, at the two
different sides of the stream--the big bunch warn't over ten rods off
me, nor so far; so I tuck sight right at the big drake's neck. The water
was quite clear and still, and seemed to have caught all the little
light as was left by the sun, for the skies had got pretty dark, I tell
you; and I could see his head quite clear agin the water--well, I draw'd
trigger, and the hull charge ripped into 'em--and there was a scrabblin'
and a squatterin' in the water now, I tell you--but not one on 'em riz--
not the darned one of the hull bunch; but up jumped both the others, and
I drawed on the drake--more by the whistlin' of his wings, than that I
seen him--but I drawed stret, Archer, any ways; and arter I'd pulled
half a moment I hard him plump down into the creek with a splash, and
the water sparkled up like a fountain where he fell. So then I didn't
wait to load, but ran along the bank as hard as I could strick it, and
when I'd got down to the spot, I tell you, little Dash had got two on
'em out afore I came, and was in with a third. Well, sich a cuttin' and
a splashin' as there was you niver did see, none on you--I guess, for
sartin--leastwise I niver did. I'd killed, you see, the drake and two
ducks, dead at the first fire, but three was only wounded, wing-tipped,
and leg-broken, and I can't tell you what all. It was all of nine
o'clock at night, and dark as all out doors, afore I gathered them three
ducks, but I did gather 'em; L