Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1893 edition. Excerpt: ... we could to save the tide, to a part where there happened to be water enough. Terribly plagued with our huge shipmates on board, and my follower, as usual, skulking behind, and thinking more of his dinner than the sport, instead of being up and ready to relieve us of this encumbrance. These last birds were scattered, and I had to fire across their line; but I got 5 ducks and mallards, 5 wigeon, 3 curlews, and i brent goose at the shot. N.B.--While in full chase under sail to force the punt over the flooded mud the gale carried away her mast, and we had both to get overboard and strain ourselves like slaves by working inch by inch for about 300 yards to shore her into a creek, or we should have had to leave her on the mud and hail our other boat to retreat in. During our dilemma the dirty pirates to leeward carried off I know not how many of my other dead birds, that had floated to the lee shore while we were chasing the cripples to prevent their going to sea; and our follower, who had orders to be near us, did not reach his post in time. The ruffians here have literally lived well on my lost birds, insomuch that, before the frost set in, I could command any loafer for a shilling, and now I can get no one to go with me unless dearly paid, as they can do so much better by stealing my dead birds, and selling them to the neighbours round at a trifle below the market price. They all carry an old musket if they can, and just pop off a half charge (perhaps with only powder) to justify the possession of your bird by swearing that they fairly shot it. This roguery I have watched no small number of times by the help of my spy-glass, which, of course, I always take afloat to save useless rowing after fowl. 23rd.--It blew such a tremendous gale of...
