224r WILD SPOETS IN THE SOTJTH. 



" How many ducks, Miss Jackson ?" 

 . "Oh, ten for idc, T believe; but tliey are beauties. 

 Paddle up closer, boys, and let us see." 



" HuUoah ! where did you get all those ? Great is 

 Diana, but that is a pretty sight !" exclaimed the Doctor, 

 leaning over to look at our ducks, that were neatly piled 

 up on one of the seats, with theii* breasts up, and their 

 heads hanging one way. 



" These are out of the flock we saw come over to- 

 day." 



" I thought so ; they just got up here, didn't they ? It 

 was a noble flock — blue wings, all of them." 



" Oh ! there are your ducks. Why, you only have 

 ten altogether. Where are those you shot. Doctor ?" 



" Oh, I didn't care to shoot. Miss Lou, here, is a 

 pupil of mine, and I like to let her try." 



A su]3pressed nasal explosion from one of the boys in 

 the Doctor's canoe mformed me, if I had needed the 

 information, that the Doctor was not a very true hand 

 T\dth the ducks, and that the lady was doing all the 

 work. 



" Well, there is the Palm Tree Island, I presume, not 

 a great way ahead. Is it time for lunch ?" 



" Yes, I think so," said Miss Jackson, " if appetite is 

 any test." 



u rpjy some cold tea," said I, extending the bottle of 

 that refreshing hunter's beverage. 



"Ah!" said she, after a long drink, "that is a spring 

 in the desert." 



