SW^iXS, HEllONS, iVND UAWKS. 71 



of the lake, but their flight was in vain, for the 

 plans of the Eed Skins were so well laid that there 

 they came upon an ambush of hunters who had gone 

 round by the other side of the Mussel Shoal, and 

 they soon fell victims to the fire of the party. 

 Those who escaped flew back to us, and every shot 

 told. When the battue was over, we counted fifty- 

 nine of these splendid birds strewn over the lake, 

 and it took us about an hour to collect them. 

 Crossing the shoal by the same way which we came, 

 we once more regained the canoe, and were ferried 

 over the river. Before night fell, the Indians were 

 once more in their v/igwams, and we once more in 

 om- snug cabin. As soon as we arrived, the camp 

 fires were lit. The supper of bear's meat, smoked 

 deer's steaks, and nuts, was discussed with the ap- 

 petite which hard work gives, and then every one 

 stretched his feet towards the fire which was burn- 

 ing in the middle of the bivouack. Whilst their 

 husbands, fathers, and brothers were enjoying a 

 restorative slumber, the squaws were sitting on their 

 heels, busily plucking the feathers from the swans 

 and pressing them into sacks made of skins. I 

 watched them for some time through our cabin 

 window, but at length the need of rest drew me to my 

 couch, and it was not long before I was fast asleep. 



With this and similar kinds of sport we passed 

 eight days among the Cherokees, and then all the 

 nuts being gathered, and the game being frightened 



