THE PLANTATION HOUSE OF " FAR AWAY." 71 



rate aim, discharged his piece. The eye immediately 

 disappeared, and he turned toward me, triumphantly 

 nodding his head and exclaiming ; 



" ' He'll not shoAV that infernal eye of his again, I guess, 

 for I put that ball square into it.' 



"I made no reply, but the term *" infernal eye ' seemed 

 to me to be very appropriate indeed. I had now placed 

 the ' pan ' upon the ground, and was arranging the fire, 

 when Stockton uttered a suppressed exclamation of sur- 

 prise and disappointment, which caused me to look up. 

 Down went the fire, gun, and everything else ; my mouth 

 gradually opened until my dinner was percej^tible, and I 

 felt satisfied, from the progress my hair was making, that 

 I should soon be relieved of my hat, for there was that 

 little ball of fire moving very slowly toward the ground, 

 with the same singular motions of the others. 



" ' Stockton,' whispered I, as soon as my feelings would 

 permit me, ' we are a set of jackasses, for as certain as 

 fate, we have been chasing the devil to-night.' 



*' He turned toward me with a half comical, half inqui- 

 sitive look, and finally remarked : 



" ' "Well, hang me if you're not complimentary, very. 

 IsTo, that is not the devil, but I am very well satisfied the 

 devil is in me. Here, take this rifle, and when he again 

 shows his eye do you let him have it. I'll hold the 

 fight.' 



" I could not refuse, and so I took the gun, and was 

 slowly and reluctantly raising it to my shoulder, when a 

 noise behind me attracted my attention, and looking 



