20 WITH THE U. S. NATURALISTS 



oughter be able to see a ridge o' pines. There's 

 three big uns in a clump, standin ' right out against 

 the sky-line. At the north end o ' that ridge is the 

 big cedar that I told yo' about, with the Fish- 

 Hawk's nest. See what yo' can do, an' be back 

 to this cypress 'long 'bout an hour afore sun- 

 down." 



"All right," said Shan, ''I'll be here waiting," 

 and he jumped out upon a big log against which 

 his uncle had directed the prow of the boat. 



« < There 's a right smart plenty of cotton-mouths 

 'round," warned Bull, as he pushed off; ''there 

 ain't no special need o' bein' reckless." 



"I'll watch out," replied Shan, and nodded to 

 his uncle as the boat slid down the brown river. 



The caution was unnecessary, though well- 

 meant. Shan, whose feet had never known shoes 

 or stockings — at least not since the time that his 

 uncle had taken the little oiiohaned lad — had all 

 the instincts as well as the training of a bare- 

 footed savage. He never stepped into boggy or 

 marshy water without probing in advance of his 

 footsteps with a stick, knowing that the deadly 

 water-viper, generally known as a "cotton-mouth 

 moccasin," will always escape if he is given a 

 chance and will only strike in defense with his 



