“Easy!” he exclaimed in a whisper. “I see one!”
He took careful aim and pulled the trigger. When the smoke had cleared away the three chums looked eagerly over the water where, a second before, a big bird had been seen.
“You’ve blown him to pieces!” exclaimed Ned.
“Missed him altogether,” said Jerry with a smile. “Loons, you know, dive at the flash of the gun, and they’re under water before the shot gets anywhere near them.”
An instant later the big bird bobbed up from the water, some distance away from the spot where Bob had fired at it.
“There he is!” cried Ned.
He took a quick shot, but it seemed to be only fun for the bird, that instantly dived under the water again.
“Why don’t you play fair!” exclaimed Bob in disgust. “I never saw such a bird.”
“That’s the only protection it’s got against guns,” said Jerry. “You can’t blame it. You’d do the same. Besides, what good are they after you shoot ’em? You can’t eat ’em.”