nearly midday
A huge pile of decoys stood near , of which about two dozen were of wood , such as the Micmac Indian whittles out with his curved _ waghon _ , or single-handed draw-knife , in the long winter evenings . He has little cash to spend for paint , and less skill in its use , but scorches the smooth , rounded blocks to the proper shade of grayish brown , and , with a little lampblack and white lead , using his fore-finger in lieu of a brush , manages to imitate the dusky head and neck with its snowy ring , and the white feathers of breast and tail . These rude imitations , with some more artistic ones , painted in profile on sheet-iron shapes , of life-size , and a few cork-and-canvas `` floaters , '' were quickly placed in a long line heading to the wind , which was north-west , and tailing down around the boat , the southernmost `` stools '' being scarce half a gun-shot from the stands . By the time these arrangements were completed it was nearly midday , and the sky , so clear in the morning , had become clouded and threatening . The chilly north-west breeze , which had made the shelter of their boats very desirable , had died away , and a calm , broken only by variable puffs of wind , succeeded . `` We shall have rain or snow to-night , '' remarked La Salle to Kennedy , who , after a few moments of watching , had curled himself down in the dry straw , and begun to peruse a copy of the Daily Tribune , his inseparable companion . `` Yes , I dare say .