WILD 8POET8 IN THE SOUTH, 



CHAPTER II. 



THE CAMP FIRE. 



" Under the shore his boat was tied, 



And all her listless crew 

 Watched the grey alligator slide 



Into the still bayou." 



LONGFELLOW. 



" TUBKEY buzzard ?" sarcastically cried my friend and 

 hunting comrade, Poke, as, returning to camp, I laid my 

 game down, and seated myself by the blanket that was 

 serving for a table, and around which Poke, the hunter 

 Mike, and the two negro boys were busy at their break- 

 fast. 



" Spring turkey ?" inquired Mike, in delicate allusion 

 to the age of my turkey. 



It was generally the habit of the party to quiz each 

 other at every success, and even mishaps were treated 

 as sources of amusement. 



" Da is har nuff to pizen all Floridy," said Scipio Afri- 

 canus, raising the long tassel of beard hanging at the 

 turkey's breast. 



" Pooh 1" said Poke, " I don't believe in that nonsense ; 

 it wouldn't kiU a cat." 



" Jis you try him, da's all; ya cut em up fine, and put 



