THE SKIN OF THE TIGEK CAT. 239 



CHAPTER XV. 



THE SKIN OP THE TIGEE-CAT. 



" A dragon's tail -was flayed to warm 

 A. headless maiden's heart." 



A NUMBER of days flew by at our island home in the 

 simple pleasures narrated in our last chapters. The 

 cheering cry of the hounds, as they scoured the islands, 

 the ringing shots in the marshes, now a long exploration 

 in the canoes through the wmding channels of the archi- 

 pelago, and again some expedition to the uttermost keys, 

 where the pelicans, dressed themselves on the sandy 

 points in lines like soldiers, and strange sea-birds, excited 

 our wonder and admiration, were the daily amusements 

 of the party. Once in a while the members of the hunt 

 would branch oiT, and while one party joursued the chase, 

 another would make an excursion to the main land, or 

 fish in the rivers. The weather had been constantly 

 clear. One cloudless day would follow another with an 

 exhilarating yet motionless air, that seemed as if nature 

 had exhausted her prodigality of production, and then, 

 breathless, had paused to dream. 



Once in a while Mike would disappear, and be gone 



