alarm. He took a careful survey of the scene. Not beholding any fleet of
black ducks as yet, he loaded his gun, and warily proceeded along the
bank towards the head of the pond.

Keeping a sharp lookout, he by and by detected something moving among
the water grasses a little way ahead, and heard a hoarse, squalling
"Quack! quack!"

Immediately afterwards a flock of half a dozen ducks sailed forth from
their shelter, nodding and quacking inquisitively.

A wild drumming was at Dol's heart, and a reckless singing in his ears,
as he raised his gun to his shoulder, and fired among them.
Nevertheless, his aim was sure and deadly. Two quackers were killed with
one shot! The others rose from the water, and with much fluttering and
hoarse noise winged their way to safety.

"How'll they be for meat, I wonder? Won't I have a crow over those
fellows?" shouted Adolphus aloud, with a yell entirely worthy of a
Kickapoo Indian, when he had recovered from surprise at the success of
his own shot.

He laid down the gun, pulled off his moccasins and socks, rolled up his
trousers, and waded in for the prize. Truly luck was with him--so
far--in his first venture in this region of the unknown. The water was
so shallow that, having grabbed the ducks, he splashed out of it,
kicking shiny drops from his toes, without wetting an inch of his
garments.

"I'm the kid of the camp, I know; but I'll be the first fellow to bring