The marsh had changed colors in the dimming light. The reeds stood out blue green against deep black shadows. The grey water reflected the shadows and seemed to stand above the tops of the reeds. A duck a long way off turned in the sky as it sighted the muds. The wind blew a little harder, and the duck moved slowly against its force. The hermit lifted the gun and made a bead on the duck as it came over the pond and began to set its wings. The duck's wings curved and the feet and tail dropped down at almost the same time. With quick strokes of the wings it began to settle on the water. The wood of the gun felt cold against the hermit's face and he watched until the bead was on the duck's bill as it began to drop in the water. Then he fired the gun and felt the recoil slap against his shoulder. The duck rolled in the air and the wind blew the blue smoke from the muzzle of the gun. The dog ran into the water and swam after the duck. The hermit leaned against the side of the hole and coughed and a rattling noise came from his chest. The dog brought the, duck and laid it down by the side of the blind and looked oddly at the hermit as he coughed. The hermit began to tremble, and he knew then he shouldn't have come hunting. He decided to go back to the shack where he could keep warm. He climbed out of the hole and the muddy ground felt cold through his gloves. Reaching down in the hole, he picked his gun up from where he left it leaning against the side of the hole. He picked up the duck and stuffed it in his pocket with the shot gun shells. He whistled to the dog, and they walked down the path to the shack. His frozen pant legs clicked together as he walked. The wind blew and the air became colder, turning his cheeks red and making streams of tears in the corners of his eyes. The water in the foot prints in the path began to freeze and as the dog walked in them the sharp thin covers of ice cut his paws and he left small spots of blood on the brown surfaces of the cattail leaves that had broken across the trail. It was so dark now that it was more like early morn than the middle of the day. As he went through the doorway to the porch, he hunched forward. The dog came close behind him and lay down on the pile of rags in the corner. The hermit hung the duck with the others on the back wall of the porch, opened the door and went inside. He leaned the shotgun against the wall, shut the door and set the box of shotgun shells on the table. He didn't bother to take off the coat. Its warmth helped till he could build the fire up in the stove. He threw his gloves on a chair. Lifting the lid from the stove he put in some wood and coal, leaving the lid off until the wood caught fire from the glowing embers in the bottom. 18 He went to the shelf and took down a bottle of wine and set it on the table by the tin cup. With a stream of water from the tap he rinsed the cup out and set it back by the bottle on the table. The coal began to burn, and he felt the room grow warmer as he sat down in the chair at the table. The wind whistled over the top of the stove pine chimney Outside the sky grew darker. He got up from the table and took a bottle with a candle in it down from the top of the stove and lit it. The flame jumped on the candle wick. He watched the reflection of the candle in the dark wine. He took tobacco from his shirt pocket, rolled a cigarette, and lit it with the candle. He drew the smoke deep in his lungs and then exhaled watching the threads of smoke from the cigarette float straight up to the ceiling in the still air. The cork popped as he took it from the bottle of wine and poured a big drink into the tin cup. He took another drag off the cigarette and coughed deep in his lungs. This time the spasm lasted longer. He slid his chair closer to the table and pushed the bottle and cup farther back on the table. He laid the cigarette on the edge of the table where burnt marks along the edge showed he had done it before. He folded his arms on the table and laid his head down. The smoke from the cigarette gave off an odd glow in the light of the candle. The wood in the stove popped, and outside red sparks floated and then winked out in the damp air. The dog got up from his bed and walked out from the porch. It started snowing and a few flakes caught on the dog's face and ears. A flight of geese sounded over head. He looked but could not see them. He turned from the door of the porch and went to lie down under the old double bed. The sound of the wings of the geese mixed with their honking. He laid his head down on his paws, growled deep in his throat, and went to sleep. 19