other of the pools, and a coot
sailing proudly along at the edge of a reed-bed with her little dingy
family, he saw nothing worthy of a shot.

Once there was a rustle among the reeds, but whatever made it was gone
before he could see what it was. Once a great heron rose from a shallow
place, offering himself as a mark; but it took Dick some time to get a
good view of the grey bird, and when at last he brought the sight of the
gun to bear upon it, the heron refused to remain still, and the muzzle
of the piece described two or three peculiar circles. When at last it
was brought steadily to bear upon the mark it was about a hundred yards
away, and the trigger was not pulled.

How long Dick had tramped and struggled on through mire and water and
over treacherous ground he did not know, but he did not get one chance;
and at last, when he stopped short with a horrible sinking sensation in
his inner boy, the only things which presented themselves as being ready
to be shot were some beautiful swallow-tailed butterflies, while, save
that the sun was right before him and going down, the lad had not the
slightest idea of where he was.

But he could not stand still, for he was on a soft spot, so he struggled
on to where the ground looked more dry, and fortunately for him it
proved to be so, and he stood looking round and thinking of going back.

"I wish I had brought something to eat," he said, gazing wistfully in
the direction in which he believed the punt lay.

But it was in vain to wish, so he determined to retrace his steps,
fighting against the thought that it would be a difficult task, for to
all intents and purposes he had lost all idea of the direction in which
he had come. It was very hot, though, and the gun was very heavy. He
was weary too with poling the boat and walking, and but for the romance
of the expedition he would have declared himself fagged out.

As it was, he thought he would have ten minutes' rest before starting
back, so picking out a good dry firm place, he laid the gun down, and
then, seeing how comfortable the gun seemed, he lay at full length upon
his back on the soft heather and gazed straight up at the blue sky.

Then his eyes wandered to a cloud of flies, long gnat-like creatures,
which were beginning to dance over the reeds, and he lay watching them
till he thought he would get up and be on the move.

Then he thought, as it was so refreshing to be still, he would wait
another five minut