THE BOOK OF DUCK DECOYS. |
| No cares of any kind, no need even of their usual sentries. Yet, perchance, they cannot help sadly reflecting on the fate of those poor ducks in distant places, who are forever pursued by men with dogs and guns; who, alas! can never enjoy real peace of mind, whether eating or sleeping, who. . . .but what, in Fortune's name, was that? Up goes every head in an instant. The birds fastest asleep of all are on the alert as soon as any. I saw nothing-did you? did you? Did you hear anything? is what, judging from their looks, fancy shapes into words for them as they stand or swim with stretched necks and glistening eyes peering towards the pipe and its screens. Some even swim inquiringly a few feet in the direction of the supposed but doubtful "something moving." Save a few suspicious old Mallards, who stand motionless and erect on the bank, all begin to settle to rest and sleep as before. Perhaps it was only a leaf settling down after all, or a harmless, though restless and so troublesome rabbit, or else . . . . There! there it is again-a fox! a fox !-no, a dog! Not a moment is to be lost, or we shall not see him plainly, or know what he is about. The birds, poor silly creatures for this once! -not at any other time, rest assured-rush, yes scramble, through the water up the pipe right under the fatal netting. They must see what it means; a dog whisking into view, and then frisking out of sight again the next moment in such an extraordinary manner, must be examined at once. Such a chance may never occur again in a lifetime. Besides, it is such impudence on his part, and if all go together the disturber may be frightened farther away. So think the ducks, especially as they see the tame Decoys swimming up the pipe also towards the dog, for they know that the appearance of the dog means food thrown to them by the Decoyman; thus they swim up in expectation of a meal. The wild ducks pursue the dog with indignant rushes when he is in view; when he is out of sight they hesitate, and half turn round to go back. But he constantly reappears, and is going farther and farther up along-side the pipe; so are the ducks in its ditch, both tame and wild. (See next page.) |
Index List of Illustrations