72 WILD SPOKTS IN THE SOUTg. 



around, I perceived Jake conducting in a most discredit- 

 able manner, twisting and squirming and holding on to 

 his stomadh as if he had the colic, and all the while 

 making a noise like choking. 



" I wish you would be kind enough to stop that infer- 

 nal clatter !" said Stockton sharply, and adding immedi- 

 ately, " There he is no w give it to him right in the 

 eye." 



I was again raising the rifle to my shoulder, but was a 

 second time deterred from my purpose by a peal or yell 

 of laughter, from Jake, sufficient to have frightened 

 every deer withing ten miles of us. For Stockton and my- 

 self, however, there was no such thing as laugh, but, on 

 the contrary, we were both rather inclined to raise a row 

 than be laughed at, and Stockton, grasping his son by 

 the shoulder, in a passion exclaimed : 



" What the devil is all this tomfoolery about ? Say ? 

 Tell me this instant, sir, or I'll ' boot ' you clear home." 



" Ha ! ha ! Oh Lordy ! ha ! ha ! Amelia Lighthouse ! 

 O, Lordy! Did I ever? Five miles ough ray poor 

 sides!" 



My curiosity was now excited to the utmost, and I 

 turned to Stockton for an explanation. I shall not 

 attempt to describe the expression of his countenance. 

 Mirth and anger were never so well mingled before. 



"Jackson," said he, finally, "we are a pair of jack- 

 asses, and have been shooting at the revolving light on 

 the Amelia Lighthouse, five miles off 7" 



Then suddenly dropping the fire-pan, he ran to where 



