WITH BEAK AND CLAW 19 



it, for, since tlie weapon was never seen in the 

 cabin, the boy rightly assumed it to be unlawful. 

 Bull had thoroughly drilled into his nephew the 

 wisdom of not seeming too curious with regard to 

 other people's affairs. 



''Much fish down this way?" he asked, after 

 an hour's pulling. 



** A-plenty," his uncle replied concisely, and con- 

 tinued rowing. 



The sun had risen above the trees, now, and the 

 day promised to be hot. The marshes on either 

 side steamed with a blue mist, although it was as 

 yet only spring. The malarial odors which haunt 

 that region began to suggest themselves. 



''Right smart warm for this time 0' year," re- 

 marked Bull, at last, as he turned the bow of the 

 boat in for the shore, close to a point where a huge 

 bald cypress grew well out from the bank, its roots 

 deep in the water. 



"It sure is hot," Shan agreed, shipping his oars 

 and wiping his forehead with the back of his hand. 

 He picked up his home-made collecting-box and 

 made ready to land, listening the while to his 

 uncle's directions. 



' ' Strike in about half a mile south-east ' here, ' ' 

 said Bull, "or, maybe, a little further an' yo'd 



