fty feet above
the water.

"I killed beaver. Your turn first now," said Mustagan to Alec. "But I
fire just after you."

Alec had at Mr Ross's suggestion dropped a half dozen big buckshot in
the barrel of his gun on the top of the charge of duckshot. The instant
the first swan of the long straight line was in range he fired. To his
amazement, while the first and second passed on unhurt, the third swan
dropped suddenly into the water; and a second or two after another,
about the twentieth in the line, also fell. Soon reports from other
guns were heard, as the friends in the other canoes in the rear fired,
and Mrs Ross was delighted to have the feathers of six beautiful white
swans to take home with her when she returned.

The most perplexed one in the party for the time being was Alec. Mr
Ross had observed it, and half suspecting the cause asked what it was
that was bothering him. His answer was:

"I cannot understand how it should have happened that when I aimed and
fired at the first swan it and the second should pass on unhurt and the
third fall dead."

He was very much surprised when Mr Ross explained that he had not
calculated for the speed with which the wild swan flies. Although such
a large and heavy bird, the swan flies with a rapidity excelled by very
few. The wild ducks and geese are easily left behind by the beautiful
and graceful swans.

When the swans were picked up the journey was resumed, and the friendly
contest between Alec and Mustagan continued. Soon a large flock of
ducks flew over them. It being Mustagan's turn he fired, and as his
arrow returned it was in the heart of a splendid duck. Alec, watching
his opportunity, fired where a number were flying close together, and
had the good fortune to bring down four at the one shot. This, of
course, gave him the victory. And no congratulations could have been
more kindly or sincere than were those of the big-hearted Mustagan.

In the meantime those in the other canoes had their own adventures and
excitements. Sam had the good fortune to kill one of the swans,
although he said afterward that he thought he must have been cross-eyed
when he fired, as the one which fell was the third or fourth behind the
one at which he aimed.

In his amusing way Sam's irrepressible spirit was up, and, in a half-
moralising way at such erratic shooting, he said: "indeed, when I saw
that swan fall I began to think I must have been like the old
schoolmast