94 PEAIKIE AND FOEEST. 



branch of the swamp, with my back against the butt of 

 a tree, with instructions to remain still and keep a sharp 

 iook-out, while he would take a detour, and possibly drive 

 some stragglers across the run which my position com- 

 manded. Slowly, after Will started, the time passed ; the 

 forest appeared perfectly deserted ; not a squirrel or bird 

 showed itself to break the monotony, except an angry, 

 squabbling family of woodpeckers, who appeared to have 

 some serious disagreement in reference to the possession 

 of a hole in the trunk of a dead giant tree. Wet feet are 

 never conducive to comfort, and much less so when you 

 are prevented from taking exercise; besides, it was bitterly 

 cold. First I stood on one leg, then on the other, after 

 the manner of geese, which birds I began to consider I 

 much resembled, till at last the inaction became so unen- 

 durable that I was very nearly taking up my gun and 

 starting in pursuit of my supposed recreant friend. 



As I was about to put my resolution in practice, I 

 thought I heard a voice, and on looking in the direction 

 from whence it proceeded, I was surprised to see a couple 

 of hunters with a cur dog passing my retreat, about a 

 hundred yards off. He who has shot much in the timber, 

 well knows that if he remains quiet the possibility is great 

 that those moving about may make the game start towards 

 his retreat. And well it was I did so ; for ere five minutes 

 had passed a grand old turkey, head down, and going like 

 a race-horse, ran past ; but turkey was not deer, so I let 

 him go, preferring to be without turkey to braving the 

 wrath of Will for firing at illegitimate game. How often 

 patience and forbearance receive their reward ! and so it 



