The nearest of the geese received the entire charge, and lay dead on the water.
Frank now waited for his turn; but the geese, after skimming along the surface of the water until they were out of gun-shot, rose in the air, and flew rapidly across the lake.
As the boys stood watching their flight, they saw a cloud of smoke issue from a clump of bushes on the opposite shore, followed by the report of a gun, and one of the flock fell to the water, and another, evidently badly wounded, rose high in the air, and flew wildly about.
Another puff of smoke rose from the bushes, a second report was heard, and the wounded bird came tumbling into the lake.
The geese, surprised at this sudden repulse, quickly wheeled, and flew back toward the place where our hunters were stationed.
Frank raised his gun to his shoulder, and, as soon as they came within range, he pulled the trigger, and brought down two geese--one stone-dead, and the other with a broken wing.

Hardly waiting to see the effect of the shot, he fired his second barrel at the flock, just as they were disappearing over the tops of the trees.

They had flown so high, that he hardly expected the shot would prove effective.

To his surprise, one of the flock gradually fell behind, and, after trying in vain to support itself, fell slowly through the air, until it almost reached the water; then it seemed to regain the power of using its wings, and began to fly more regularly.
"Try your gun again, Archie," said Frank; "I'm afraid we are going to lose him." Archie accordingly drew a bead on the goose, but with no better success, and the bird speedily disappeared over the trees.
"Confound my luck!" exclaimed Archie, impatiently.

"I'll try and keep my powder dry after this." "He can't fly far," said Frank.