216 WILD SPORTS IN THE SOUTH. 



** You need not say anything," said the Doctor. 

 " Why didn't you kill some of those black ducks ?" 



" Gun hung fire." 



" Pooh ! what nonsense 1" 



" Come, no recriminations, load up I" 



" How shall we shoot ?" 



"Each boat is to paddle its own way through the 

 reeds, and shoot what rises, and so we will get a good 

 many passing shots overhead. That's so, isn't it, Mike ?" 

 " I reckon." 



" How will we come together again ?" 



" Thar's an island clare up to the eend of this water, 

 and it's got one cabbage-tree on it, I reether think the 

 biggest cabbage-tree north of Tampa Bay. We might 

 come together thar." 



" Amen !" said the Doctor. " Now let's start. I am 

 on warlike deeds intent." 



" Quack ! quack ! quack I" sounded close by us, and 

 one of those wayward ducks that sometimes, against all 

 rules, skulks behind his comrades, got up near us. The 

 Doctor was standing up at the time, and fired, but from 

 the rocking of the unsteady canoe he missed, as before. 



" What a shame, Doctor ! I shall not ride with you." 



" Try him, some one." 



" He's too far away !" said Jackson, with his gun half 

 way to his shoulder. 



" Shoot him, Mike !" said Miss Jackson, turning to 

 where the hunter sat in his canoe. 



Mike passed the back of his hand quickly across his 



