1 82 Sporting Sketches 



" No, we'se jist gwine to shoot right along, an' 

 yo' ain't gwine to be hard on de ole man, seein' dat 

 he tole yo' de birds was hyar ? " 



So they proceeded, and by the time they had 

 reached the first enlargement of the creek they had 

 seven between them, the darky bagging a couple 

 and missing as many more. Before beating what 

 looked a very likely bit, they turned aside to visit a 

 little log-cabin at the door of which sat an ancient 

 colored crone. 



" Got any fresh water, Aunty ? " 



" Howdy, sah ? Yas, I'll fotch sum. Good-day, 

 Paw Duckett; yo'se a-huntin' again, eh? 'Spec's 

 mebbe yo'se arter squrls ? " 



" No'm, me an' Marse Ned is a-huntin' woodcocks ; 

 hab yo' seen any roun' dis mawnin' ? " 



" Woodcocks ? Why, dey am num'rous ; dey am 

 a-rappin' on de tellygraff poles an' de fences all 

 day long ; didn't know dey was wuff a-huntin'," and 

 the old lady picked herself up and went for the de- 

 sired water, while Duckett surmised "dat de ole 

 gal was pow'ful iggerant an' didn't know woodcocks 

 from woodpeckers." 



Returning again to the swale they found the 

 cover very dense in places and agreed to separate 

 in order to lessen the work for the dog, he being 

 tired with his exertions in the tangled grass. 



" Now mind, Marse Ned, no climbin' up on 

 stumps an' overreachin' de ole man like I'se knowed 

 yo' to do. Just work right froo all as it comes an' 

 I'll do de same, an' we'll meet at de far end." 



Birds were fairly numerous, and though quite a 

 number were missed or got away without giving 



