THE BATTUE ON BONDA KEY. 179 



thing had its representative, particularly those classes 

 that preyed on man, which seemed the more voracious 

 from being so seldom gratified by visitors. 



I am thus particular as to the peculiarities of this place, 

 that my readers may well understand the process of 

 hunting which we adopted the morning after our arrival, 

 and the success of which I will always remember. It 

 was Jackson's idea, and he styled it the battue. On our 

 arrival hi the evening, the hounds had all been tied to 

 prevent them coursing over the island, and the negroes 

 had been restricted to a very narrow range in the col- 

 lection of firewood and fish, so that nothing should be 

 done to disturb the game that might be on the island. 



The next morning, as we came out from our tents with 

 the first grey light, the cool wind was still coming in 

 from the sea, laden with the salt flavor; the negroes 

 were poking together the half-burned brands, and pre- 

 paring the breakfast in haste, or rather all the haste a 

 negro ever assumes, and I plunged into the sea with the 

 happy anticipation of a grand hunt, and all a-glow to 

 hear the first cry and ringing shot of our grand battue. 



" Good morning to you, Miss Jackson ; you look like 

 Diana this morning in your canvas jacket and gown." 



" And you like a shipwrecked mariner, with your drip- 

 ping locks, and jacket on your arm." 



" Where's Mike ?" 



" Maussa Mike's gone off with he shell on he back, like 

 a gopher," said Scipio. 



" There he comes ; he has been around the head." 



