24: WILD SPORTS IN THE SOUTH. 



myself in the woods, for he would sometimes sit by the 

 hour in his silent way, watching our motions and conver- 

 sation. He never added a word, but if his opinion was 

 asked, and the subject one that had been in the range of 

 his observation, he answered the querist in the simplest 

 manner. There he sat by the fire that morning ; I re- 

 member him as if painted before me. His mahogany 

 face wrinkled in kindly lines, and his chin covered by a 

 long, thin beard. He was smoking in the Spanish fashion, 

 rolling cigarettes from dried leaves across his knees, and 

 his quizzical eye wandered over us with a considering look, 

 as though we were children. A big, black and dun hound, 

 with a melancholy face, stood beside him ; it was said 

 either of them could track a bear by the scent. He had 

 acquired the Indian habit of inhaling smoke for some 

 minutes, and then driving it out of his mouth and nos- 

 trils in dense volumes, as a whale fills his lungs with 

 water, and then spouts it into the air. 



The negro boys, Scipio and Caesar, regarded him 

 with feelings of respectful veneration. He excelled them 

 in all their own handicraft. He knew every tree in the 

 woods, and its uses ; the habits of wild game, vegetable 

 poisons, and the best manner of cooking ; he could swim, 

 ride, hunt, and shoot better than they. He had a close 

 acquaintance with the Indians, and, the boys said, witli 

 the devil, and therefore there was a superstitious awe in 

 regard to him, that was exhibited to no one else. 



Besides the human members of our party, there were 

 a dozen dogs of high and low degree. Mike had two ; 



