midday
Here my aversion to mutton again asserted itself ; and while the `` boys '' watered the oxen , built the camp fire , and generally made preparations for the coming night , I took my rifle , and , accompanied as usual by the two dogs , and by Piet , carrying my double-barrelled 12-bore shot gun , I sauntered off in search of something acceptable for supper . The spot where we had outspanned for the night was the one which I usually chose as the termination of the second stage of my journey when going to Port Elizabeth . It was an extensive flat , dotted here and there with big clumps of bush , and with a wide , shallow depression in the ground , about a mile distant from the wagon . Into this the same spruit alongside which we had outspanned at midday found its way and widened out into a broad , shallow , reed-bordered sheet of water , much frequented by wild duck , widgeon , and geese , and also the favourite drinking place of all the game haunting its immediate neighbourhood . I felt pretty certain , therefore , of getting a shot at something by ambushing myself among the reeds , and to this spot I accordingly made my way . As it happened , we arrived in the very nick of time , for we had scarcely taken up a position among the reeds , in a situation that enabled me to command a view of a good wide stretch of water , when I saw a faint smudge against the clear sky southward , which rapidly resolved itself into a big flight of wild duck heading directly for the end of the pond near where I was ambushed ; and I had only time to pass my rifle to Piet and receive from him the shot gun in exchange when , with much quacking , the flight wheeled and proceeded to settle down upon the surface of the water . As they did so I raised my weapon , and , aiming into the `` brown '' , pressed both triggers , one immediately after the other , with the result that five of the duck dropped dead , while another half-dozen fell wounded , the whole being promptly retrieved by Piet and the dogs , who all dashed into the shallow water and brought them ashore .