Here another buoyed bait was left, and then they went on to lay another and another, the old decoy-man, with the knowledge bought by very long experience, selecting choice spots till the whole set were disposed of in the course of an hour, over a space far exceeding a mile.
"We shall never recollect where they were all set, Dave," said Dick at last, as he stood up looking back along the side of one of the big pools to which they had made their way through what resembled a little river running among the reeds and joining two great pools together.
"You wouldn't," grumbled the man; "but p'raps I may.

Now let's go reight back, and see if theer's any on, or--don't you think, lads, it's 'bout time to try and ketch me ?" Dick stared.
"He means he wants you to try if he'd take a corner of the pie, Dick, if you offered it to him as a bait," cried Tom laughing, while Dave's yellow visage developed into something like a grin.
"Ay, that's it, lad--I feel as if I could coot a loaf in two, and eat half wi'out winking.

Nay, wait and I'll throost the boat up to yon trees.

Hey, look at that!" He shaded his eyes, and gazed at a large flock of birds flying as closely together, apparently, as starlings, and hundreds upon hundreds in number.

They were flying swiftly at a good height, when all at once, as if by a signal, they changed their direction, and, with the accuracy of drilling, darted down in a great bird stream straight for the earth, disappearing behind a low patch of willows.
"Golden plovers!" cried Dick, excitedly.