His soliloquy was cut short by the movements of the flock, which, instead of continuing on their course up the creek, rose higher in the air, and flew about in confusion.

This opportunity was not lost by the concealed sportsman, and a second bird came down with a broken wing.  The ducks then wheeled and flew back toward the place where Archie was stationed.  As soon as they came within range, he fired and brought down another bird, which landed among the bushes on the opposite side of the creek.

He now turned his attention to the wounded duck, which was swimming in a circle around his dead companion, as if perfectly bewildered.

“I wish I had my powder-flask and shot-bag,” said Archie.  “How foolish I was not to bring them!  I bet that I’ll never start out again with only one load in my gun.”

But there was no time for regrets.  The duck seemed to be recovering his strength, and began co flap his wings, as if preparing to fly.  Archie began to fear that he should lose him; and, throw down his gun, he gathered up an armful of sticks and branches, and straightway opened fire on the bird.  The duck dodged the missiles like a flash, and every now and then renewed his attempts to fly; but, at length, a heavy piece of root struck him, and stretched him out lifeless on the water.

“Ha! ha! ha!” laughed a strong, cheery voice.  “That’s what I call shooting ducks under difficulties.”

Archie looked up and saw his cousin standing on the opposite side of the creek, with his gun on one shoulder and two of the flock slung over the other.

“I came very near getting the start of you, after all—­didn’t I?” continued Frank.

“Was that you shooting up there?” inquired Archie.

“Yes; I had almost reached the swamp, when I happened to think that perhaps the ducks might be in the creek, so I turned back.”

“A lucky circumstance for you.  But I beat you, after all.  I’ve got three ducks.”

“Where are they?  I don’t see but two.”

“The other is over there in the bushes, somewhere.”

Frank immediately commenced looking for it, and Archie procured a long branch, and waded out as far as possible into the creek, and, after considerable exertion and a thorough wetting, succeeded in pulling both of his ducks to the shore.

During the three weeks that followed, the boys passed the time in various ways—­sometimes hunting in the woods or on the river, but more frequently working in the shop.  They also spent considerable time in attending to their pets.  The young otter proved to be the most interesting little animal they had ever seen.  He grew quite tame, and when the boys entered the room where he was kept, he would come toward them, uttering a faint whine, and, if they seated themselves, he would jump up into their laps, and search through their pockets for something to eat—­such as bread or crackers, of which the boys always took especial care to have a good supply.