270 WILD SPORTS m THE SOUTH. 



been bent by some body passing through. As he 

 watched them carefully they still arose, closing more and 

 more of the opening, and regaining their erect posi- 

 tion, showing that whatever had disturbed them, had 

 but just departed. The hunter surveyed the whole bay 

 and the opening bayous with a careful eye, and then fol- 

 lowed back the trail to the clump of trees where the scout 

 had spent the night, and examined the place carefully. 

 He then made several casts around the camp, each one of 

 greater circuit, examinmg as he went every indication of 

 the presence, during the night, of any other person, and 

 finally returned with his measured tread, and took his 

 accustomed place by the fire. 



From the survey he had made, he knew there was but 

 one Indian on the island; he knew by the track, the 

 new footmarks overlapping old ones, that the Indian had 

 come and gone in the same direction. He knew that he 

 was there to watch the hunting party, and for no other 

 reason ; and by the matted grass in the thorn bushes he 

 knew that he had passed the most of the night in the 

 same place. It was no straggler, for he had an object; 

 no hunter, for he was without dog or comrade. What- 

 ever Mike's reflections were, he kept them secret, and 

 smiled at Lou's jests and chatted as quietly with the Doc- 

 tor, while he superintended the loading of the boats for 

 the return trip, as though he had not left the camp. 



The tents were struck and packed, our few skins and 

 trophies were stowed away in the canoes, and when we 

 had finished a hearfy breakfast, and Rose had cooked 



