The Wild-Fowlers 95 



with the shop articles to an item, and 

 was busy clearing away the great mess of 

 dishes and pans soiled at supper; Corbin 

 and Bradley were all but asleep, with their 

 cigars half down their necks ; and Seth and 

 the Captain, now firm friends, trimmed 

 the sheets and held the tiller as they 

 talked over the prospects of game the 

 following day. The sloop by name 

 the Coot had cleared the creek and was 

 making east. Seth was in a joyful eleva- 

 tion of mind, and he more than once ex- 

 pressed his delight to his companion. 

 The moon, full and silver-white, shone in 

 the deep blue sky, and its effulgence 

 played on the water along the very course 

 the smart sloop was making. Fire Island 

 Light, fairly red when shining with the 

 silvery moon's rays, flashed out every 

 now and again far to the east; on the bar 

 the reflectors of the life-saving station 

 shone clear and steady, and the village 

 lamps on the mainland burned as brightly 

 as if only a few hundred yards away. 



