Page:Pictures of life in Mexico Vol 1.djvu/200

172 beside the stream, till we arrived at the lake; by which time the sun was high in the heavens, rendering the sheet of water too vividly bright to be gazed at by the strongest eye, and causing the numerous leaves and bulrushes along the banks to droop their heads beneath his rays. When we arrived at a particular point upon the margin of the lake, where it was a thought muddier than elsewhere, our sagacious Zambo began to prick up his ears, and look as knowing as a canine substitute might have done under the circumstances. At sight of some indistinct spots upon the marsh in the distance, he motioned us to stop; then advancing noiselessly and stooping, he waited, inviting us to follow him in the same manner.

So soon as we were at his side, and the three infernal machines and all the guns were in readiness to bear upon the spot, he ran forward, hallooed loudly, and clapped his hands. Immediately up sprung such a flock of wild ducks as I had never seen before upon the wing: they actually seemed to darken the air around us for several minutes. Bang went the guns and machines—away flew the main body of ducks—and off ran the Zambo to secure the killed and wounded. A goodly