THE DEER HUNT. 103 



"Kase I'se not sartin the niggahs here'bouts knows 

 Leaps, and dey sez dey ain't a gwinc to hunt dat buck no 

 how, and I guess as how I wouldn't nudder. 'Spec as how 

 sumthin' wuss en what we've seen will conic out a' that 

 eer chase yit. I'se not scared, but dat is very 'plcxing." 



The day was wearing away fast, and, sending one of 

 the boys for the two deer last killed, we all turned 

 toward the place appointed for our meeting, where after 

 a few minutes' riding a blue smoke column arose among 

 the trees, and the distant gleam of water announced a 

 dinner and a rest two pleasant things, whose worth is 

 only known to those who have labored well. From our 

 dining-place, a bend of the river showed us two vistas 

 down the ancient woods, and the broad sheet of water, 

 half in shadow half in sunshine, was broken by the flocks 

 of ducks that were coasting along its banks. The trees 

 that fringed the shore were covered with immense creep- 

 ing vines, that clasped the trunks and suspended them- 

 selves from the branches. Down by the water's edge, 

 the golden-rod reared its yellow head, and the love-vine 

 wove its orange thread like a net over many a rank 

 grove of water plants. The opposite shore Avas lower 

 than the bank on which we were standing, and the eye 

 took in miles of cane-brake and forest, unbroken by any 

 sign of human labor. 



" Look at those turkey buzzards, Doctor," said Miss 

 Jackson, pointing to two birds that, with matchless grace, 

 were floating in slow circles high in the air. " I would 

 like to see the view they are taking in at this moment." 



