72 WILD SP0ET8 IN" THE SOUTH. 



around, I perceived Jake conelucting in a most discredit- 

 able manner, twisting and squirming and holding on to 

 his stomach as if he had the colic, and all the while 

 making a noise hke choking. 



" I wish you would be kind enough to stop that infer- 

 nal clatter !" said Stockton sharply, and addmg immedi- 

 ately, "There he is — now give it to him — right in the 

 eye." 



I was again raising the rifle to my shoulder, but was a 

 second time deterred from my purpose by a peal or yell 

 of laughter, from Jake, sufficient to have frightened 

 every deer withing ten miles of us. For Stockton and my- 

 self, however, there was no such thing as laugh, but, on 

 the contrary, we were both rather inclined to raise a roAV 

 than be laughed at, and Stockton, grasping his son by 

 the shoulder, in a passion exclaimed : 



" What the devil is all this tomfoolery about ? Say ? 

 Tell me this mstant, sir, or I'll ' boot ' you clear home." 



"Ha! ha! OhLordy! ha! ha! Amelia Lighthouse ! 

 O, Lordy! Did I ever? Five miles — ough — my poor 

 sides I" 



My curiosity was now excited to the utmost, and I 

 turned to Stockton for an explanation. I shall not 

 attempt to describe the expression of his countenance. 

 Mirth and am^er were never so well minojled before. 



" Jackson," said he, finally, " we are a j^air of jack- 

 asses, and have been shooting at the revolving light on 

 the Amelia Lighthouse^ Jive miles off!'''' 



Then suddenly dropping tlie fire-pan, he ran to where 



