irely deserted save by the
floating bodies of their dead companions.

"Arrow better than gun," Luka said as he rose. "Gun kill, but frighten
all away. Arrow keep on killing."

"That is true enough, Luka; there is no doubt the bow is the best for
this sort of work; but I shall manage better another time."

The birds were picked up. Twelve had fallen to each of the Ostjaks. Luka
had eleven, and Godfrey five. It was a heavy burden to carry back to the
huts. Godfrey and Luka's shares of the birds were laid by the pile of
fish, with the exception of one which Luka proceeded to skin and hang
up, while Godfrey saw to the fire and put on the kettle.

When they had finished breakfast Godfrey said, "We will take three or
four hours' sleep now, Luka, and then I am going down to have a look at
that marsh." They accordingly started at mid-day. Godfrey made a detour
round the lagoon, and a hundred yards beyond it, on the opposite side,
found a clump of bushes that he thought would suit his purpose. With
Luka's assistance he cleared a spot in the middle large enough for them
to lie down on, and then returned to camp. They took their next meal
early, and then, taking some furs to make themselves comfortable, again
started round the lagoon. It was just sunset when they got there, and
spreading two or three fox-skins on the ground, and throwing two over
their shoulders, they waited.

It was scarcely dusk when the first flock of geese passed close over
their heads, on their way to the lagoon. Luka discharged two arrows, and
then Godfrey fired his two barrels into them. Several fell, but the
flock scattered with wild screams; but, after circling round and round
for some time, settled in the lagoon. A quarter of an hour passed, and
then another flock came along. All night the flocks continued to arrive
at short intervals, and from each Godfrey brought down several. Luka's
arrows were soon exhausted, but Godfrey continued firing until morning
began to break. Then they got up to see the result of the night's
shooting. Luka, although seldom excited, gave a shout of pleasure. The
ground around them was thickly strewn with geese. Many were only
wounded; but Luka, with a short, heavy stick, soon put them out of their
pain, although not without several sharp chases. Then they collected and
counted the birds. There were eighty-four in all.

"Another night's shooting, Luka, and our larder will be full."

Each taking up six geese, which was as