THE DROWNED LANDS. 235 



canoes, where he disposed of the remains of the dinner- 

 basket before our return. 



" Now we are all ready, let us form in a line, and beat 

 down the island regularly," said Jackson, the ardor of the 

 hunt awakening him from much of his ILstlessness. " Fall 

 in, boys ; one of you walk between each of the hunters." 



The long, irregular line being formed, it stretched 

 nearly across the island, and we advanced, sinking in the 

 soft mud occasionally, but oftener finding a sandy bot- 

 tom, with pools of water. The snipe were abundant ; we 

 could see them sometimes on the ground in couples, on 

 which occasions the Doctor would always fire with pretty 

 certain success. Most frequently they arose singly, 

 uttering their peculiar harsh cry, and were tumbled over 

 by one or other of the party before they had gone five 

 yards, amid the shouts and gufiaws of the negroes. 

 Mike, occasionally, when a bird got up at a little distance, 

 would make " a grease spot " of it with the same shame- 

 faced look as he had when he picked up the first one, 

 apparently doubting if he and his rifle were in respectable 

 business. 



Lou shot well, after a little practice, and she trod over 

 the flags, with her eye fixed ahead of her, with that 

 earnestness of look that a person attains never so greatly 

 as when watching for upspringing game that he feels 

 confident he can hit. 



" Mark !" called Scipio, as a snipe launched in the air 

 from our feet, the brown and hazel pointings on his back 

 glittering like soldiers' bayonets at the charge. The first 



