ied that he had a wild and
frightened look, but I attributed this to my being partially a stranger
to him; and was in hopes that, as soon as we became better acquainted,
he would work in a different manner.

"I was disappointed, however, as, do what I might, he would not go near
the water, nor would he perform the trick of running to and fro which I
had been assured by my friend he would be certain to do. On the
contrary, he cowered among the bushes, near where I had stationed
myself, and seemed unwilling to move out of them. Two or three times,
when I dragged him forward, and motioned him toward the water, he rushed
back again, and ran under the brushwood.

"I was exceedingly provoked with this conduct of the dog, the more so
that a flock of canvas-backs, consisting of several thousands, was
seated upon the water not more than half a mile from the shore. Had my
dog done his duty, I have no doubt they might have been brought within
range; and, calculating upon this, I had made sure of a noble shot. My
expectations, however, were defeated by the waywardness of the dog, and
I saw there was no hope of doing anything with him.

"Having arrived at this conclusion, after some hours spent to no
purpose, I rose from my cover, and marched back to the skiff. I did not
even motion the wretched cur to follow me; and I should have rowed off
without him, risking the chances of my friend's displeasure, but it
pleased the animal himself to trot after me without invitation, and, on
arriving at the boat, to leap voluntarily into it.

"I was really so provoked with the brute, that I felt much inclined to
pitch him out, again. My vexation, however, gradually left me; and I
stood up in the skiff, turning over in my mind what course I should
pursue next.

"I looked toward the flock of canvas-backs. It, was a tantalising
sight. They sat upon the water as light as corks, and as close together
as sportsman could desire for a shot. A well-aimed discharge could not
have failed to kill a score of them at least.

"Was there no way of approaching them? This question I had put to
myself for the twentieth time without being able to answer it to my
satisfaction.

"An idea at length flitted across my brain. I had often approached
common mallards by concealing my boat under branches or furze, and then
floating down upon them, impelled either by the wind or the current of a
stream. Might not this also succeed with the canvas-backs?