nd had lighted a cigar, I was entirely willing to sink back
to disgraceful ease. But the Captain suddenly developed an inexcusable
and fiendish energy.

"No, you don't," said he. "You come with me and Redmond and get out the
decoys."

"What for?" I temporized, feebly.

"To keep the moths out of them, of course," replied the Captain with
fine sarcasm. "Do you mean to tell me that you can sit still and do
nothing after seeing all those ducks this afternoon? You're a fine
sportsman! Brace up!"

"Let me finish this excellent cigar," I pleaded. "You gave it to me."

To this he assented. Carrie went back to the piano. The lights were dim.
Mrs. Kitty went on finishing her crochet work or whatever it was. Nobody
said anything for a long time. The Captain was busy in the gun room with
one of the ranch foremen.

But this could not last, and at length I was haled forth to work.

The crisp, sharp air beneath the frosty stars, after the tepid air
within, awakened me like the shock of cold water. Redmond was awaiting
us with a lantern. By the horse block lay the mass of something
indeterminate which I presently saw to be sacks full of something
knobby.

"I have six sacks of wooden decoys," said Redmond, "with weights all on
them."

The Captain nodded and passed on. We made our way down past the grape
arbour, opened the high door leading into chickenville, and stopped at
the border of the little pond. On its surface floated a hundred or so
tame ducks of all descriptions. By means of clods of earth we woke them
up. They came ashore and waddled without objection to a little
inclosure. We followed them and shut the gate.

One after another the Captain indicated those he wished to take with him
on the morrow. Redmond caught them, inserted them in gunny sacks, two to
the sack. They made no great objection to being caught. One or two
youngsters flopped and flapped about, and had to be chased into a
corner. In general, however, they accepted the situation
philosophically, and snuggled down contentedly in their sacks.

"They are used to it," the Captain explained. "Most of these Rouen ducks
are old hands at the business; they know what to expect."

He was very particular as to the colouring of the individuals he
selected. A single white feather was sufficient to cause the rejection
of a female; and even when the colour scheme was otherwise perfect, too
light a shade proved undesired.

"I don't know just why it is," said he, "