breeding-places for wild fowl on the continent.
Besides this, they wished to remain with Alex as long as possible, for
all of them had become very fond of the quiet and dignified man who
had been their guide and companion for so long.

The four of them had no trouble in finishing the portage of the
_Jaybird_ and her cargo from the wagon to navigable water, and finally
they set off, paddling for the marshes which made off toward the main
lake.

They had traveled perhaps three or four miles when Alex concluded to
yield to the importunities of the boys to get ashore. They were eager
to do this, because continually now they saw great bands and streams
of wild fowl coming in from every direction to alight in the
marshes--more ducks, as Alex had said, than they had thought there
were in all the world. Most of them were mallards, and from many
places in the marsh they could hear the quacking and squawking of yet
other ducks hidden in the high grass.

"We haven't any waders," said Alex, "and I think you'll find the
water pretty cold, but you'll soon get used it to. Come ahead, then."

They pushed their canoe into the cover of the reeds and grasses, and
disembarking, waded on out toward the outer edge of the marsh, where
the water was not quite so deep, yet where they could get cover in
rushes and clumps of grass. Alex posted them in a line across a narrow
quarter of the marsh, so that each gun would be perhaps a hundred
yards from his neighbor, Jesse, the shortest of the party, taking the
shallowest water nearest to the road beyond the marsh.

They had not long to wait, for the air seemed to them quite full of
hurrying bands of fowl, so close that they could see their eyes dart
glances from side to side, their long necks stretched out, their red
feet hugged tight up to their feathers.

It is not to be supposed that any one of our young hunters was an
expert wild-fowl shot, for skill in that art comes only with a
considerable experience. Moreover, they were not provided with the
best of guns and ammunition, but only such as the Post was accustomed
to sell to the half-breeds of that country. In spite of all handicaps,
however, the sport was keen enough to please them, and successful
enough as well, for once in a while one of them would succeed in
knocking out of a passing flock one or more of the great birds, which
splashed famously in the water of the marsh. Sometimes they were
unable to find their birds after they had f