the hunters were hidden; but when he saw that his manoeuvres had
attracted the ducks near the shore, he gradually worked down the sandy
beach until he had them fairly opposite the muzzles of the guns.

A low bird cry from his master was the signal for his change of tactics,
and with loud, yelping, fox-like barking he sprang into the waves.

The ducks, thus suddenly alarmed, instantly rose up in hundreds, and the
simultaneous reports of the guns rang out, and between thirty and forty
ducks, dead and wounded, fell back into the waters. Our hunters, both
the Indian and the three boys, sprang from their hiding places, and with
Koona's aid secured their splendid bag of game. This was rare sport for
the boys, and gave them so much delight that old Ooseemeemou decided to
postpone the goose hunt until the next day, and give the boys another
opportunity of seeing the sagacity of Koona, the clever little dog that
had contributed so much to the success of the expedition.

They returned to their places, and were told to keep as much hidden as
possible, as the ducks, now alarmed by the reports of the guns, and the
death and wounding of so many of their numbers, would be shy and
excited; and would keep flying around for some time ere they would again
alight. Koona in the meantime had curled himself up like a ball of
white wool, and was also quite hidden from the sight of the flying
ducks.

In about half an hour the ducks began to alight again in the water.
They were very alert and watchful, and seemed resolved not to be again
so easily caught napping. But ducks are silly things and are easily
deceived, or have very short memories. Anyway it was the case with
these. When a goodly number of them were again seen swimming about, a
peculiar sound like the cry of a sea gull was heard, and soon Koona was
observed moving very cautiously out to a little point on the sandy
beach, just in front of the clump of bushes behind which his master was
hidden. Here he curled himself up into a little white bundle and
remained perfectly still. Soon after the boys were startled by the
sounds of the loud quacking of ducks over the very place where Koona lay
so still and quiet. At first they were very much surprised at this, as
not a duck was now seen flying in that direction. A little closer
investigation showed them that the quacking sounds were all proceeding
from the mouth of the old Indian, who, like many of his people, was able
to imita