256 WILD SPORTS IN THE SOUTH. 



when the cover was restored to its place, and the em- 

 blem of plenty was seated in front of the coals, where 

 his jocund face reflected the bright flames, and the sim- 

 mering viands that were cooking beside him with a 

 pleasant glow, like that which shines on the countenance 

 of an old patriarch, when down the Christmas table peer 

 the bright eyes of long lines of merry grand-children. 

 The turkey-hen had been in the meanwhile transfixed on 

 a stake, with its maw crammed with chestnuts, and was 

 clucking out its despite against its warm roost, vaporing 

 out its savory humors, while Rose was squatted behind 

 it, screening her face from the fire with one hand and 

 basting the bird with the other as the fire blistered its 

 tender skin. 



" Now for the omelette !" exclaimed the Doctor, turn- 

 ing away from a long survey of the various articles of 

 food that girdled the fire ; "bring me the eggs, 

 Sam." 



Sam approached with a grin on his face, and his hat 

 full of soft shell turtle eggs that had been procured from 

 the sand. 



" You'd better roast them in the hot sand instead of 

 trying to make omelette," I suggested. 



" Or bill them in the stew," said Jackson. 



" No, gentlemen, an omelette soufflee I have decided 

 upon. If you want some in the stew I can spare you six ; 

 they will be as hard as bullets by*he time the stew is 

 done ; but I must have an omelette ; I am really suffer- 

 ing for an omelette ; and he began breaking open the 



