'Twas a very long shot.

I had little expectation of hitting: yet my bullet must have struck it; for it flapped over, and came toppling down till within a hundred feet of the top of the crag, when it recovered itself, mounted a little, but gradually settled in the air till lost from sight behind the crag.
Thinking it barely possible that it might fall to the ground, I sent Palmleaf with Guard round where the acclivity was not so great, to look for it.

The negro had seen the bird fall, and started off.

I let him take my musket, and, with the rest of the boys, went down to the water, which was distant from where we then were not more than a hundred rods.

Donovan and Weymouth had already finished skinning the glutton, and gone down to the boat.