Page:Redcoat (1927).djvu/88

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wary hunter went until he reached the end of the land, and then he slipped silently into the water and swam to the old log, just the tip of his nose showing.

Behind the log he waited for several minutes marking the position of the nearest duck with great care. Then he again slipped noiselessly into the water. This time he swam till within twenty feet of the duck with his nose just showing, and then it too disappeared.

When the duck towards which Mr. Fox had been swimming, suddenly sank from sight, quite noiselessly, the rest of the ducks concluded that it dove for something under the water. Once under the water the Red Hunter silenced the duck with a crushing bite upon its neck. Then he slowly, and without a ripple, swam back to his point of attack behind the old log.

He laid the dead duck beside the log where it was out of sight, and went back for another. Again he was successful, and soon the second duck lay beside the first. But on the third attempt the duck moved just