243 WILD SPOKTS IN THE SOUTH. 



any one about such things, but I do not believe father 

 would leave now, and I can't make him without a 

 stronger reason than you have given." 



" Wall, look out ; and the time to look out is jist when 

 everything is oncommin pleasant, for that's the blind with 

 these sarpcnts. Thar's somethin' else I want to say, 

 Miss Lou," continued Mike, after a pause. 



Miss Jackson looked at the hunter as though inquir- 

 ing his wishes. She leaned against the prow of the canoe 

 that was hauled up on the beach, but did not say a 

 word. 



" Wall, I was goin' to say that — that — wall, thar haint 

 been many Tiger-cats in Floridy, and ef thar hadn't been 

 any^ I reckon I would hev got that one fur you, fur you 

 know that ef a man — ef a man likes anybody — as much 

 as" — 



Mike here made a long pause. Lou Jackson had 

 gathered up her cloak from the boat that she had ap- 

 parently come down for, and turning slowly toward tho 

 tents, seemed moving away. 



" Don't go yet. Miss Lou," said the hunter, beseech- 

 ingly. 



'•' I am in a great hurry," said the girl ; which, if so, 

 was the first time she had been in a hurry since coming to 

 the island. 



" Wait one minute," besought Mike, brushing his hand 

 across his forehead ; " here's the Tiger-cat skin you once 

 said you wanted," unfolding, as he spoke, from under his 

 hmiting-coat, the flowing robe of an animal gracefully 



