Chapter 21

WILD-FOWLING ADVENTURES

My sporting brother and the armoury--I attend him on his shooting expeditions--Adventure with golden plover--A morning after wild duck-- Our punishment--I learn to shoot--My first gun--My first wild duck--My ducking tactics--My gun's infirmities--Duck-shooting with a blunderbuss--Ammunition runs out--An adventure with rosy-bill duck-- Coarse gunpowder and home-made shot--The war danger comes our way--We prepare to defend the house--The danger over and my brother leaves home