Bending the yielding osiers aside, he drew out the ducks
one by one, wrung their necks, and passing their heads
through his girdle, made his way again to the coracle. Then
he scattered another handful or two of grain on the water,
sparingly near the mouth of the creek, but more thickly at
the entrance to the trap, and then paddled back again by the
way he had come.

Almost noiselessly as he dipped the paddle in the water,
the hound's quick ear had caught the sound, and he was standing
at the edge of the swamp, wagging his tail in dignified
welcome as his master stepped on to dry land.

"There, Wolf, what do you think of that? A good score
of eels and fish and three fine wild ducks. That means bones
for you with your meal to-night--not to satisfy your hunger,
you know, for they would not be of much use in that way, but
to give a flavour to your supper. Now let us make the fire up
and pluck the birds, for I warrant me that father and Egbert,
if they return this evening, will be sharp-set. There are the
cakes to bake too, so you see there is work for the next hour
or two."

The sun had set now, and the flames, dancing up as the
boy threw an armful of dry wood on the fire, gave the hut a
more cheerful appearance. For some time the lad busied
himself with preparation for supper. The three ducks were
plucked in readiness for putting over the fire should they be
required; cakes of coarse rye-flour were made and placed in
the red ashes of the fire; and then the lad threw himself down