138 WILD SCENES AND SONG-BIKDS. 



had collected. The ladies very soon rid themselves of their 

 now superfluous bonnets, shawls, gloves, &c., while we, their 

 unfortunate gallants, were permitted but little time to con- 

 gratulate them upon the comforts of this disembarrassment, 

 and their promised repose in the cool shade, for the jovial 

 voice of our host promptly recalled us to a sense of service 

 imposed upon us for the morning by the usage of the occa- 

 sion. 



" Come, boys ! The girls can take care of themselves 

 now. The seine's all ready down at the mill. Mount! 

 Mount !" 



This imperative summons was not very promptly obeyed, 

 for young men would, naturally, after such a ride, be in no 

 great hurry to exchange the exhilaration which deliciously 

 lingered under the warm glances of their fair companions, 

 for a cold plunge into the river to drag the seine for fish. 

 This was our duty, and the young girls teazingly assured us 

 that they would not touch or serve up a single mouthful for 

 our dinners, if we did not drag the seine and catch the fish 

 ourselves. But we managed to find consolation in the fact, 

 that, if we were compelled to catch the fish, they had to 

 cook them under old Jim's supervision, and wait on us at 

 dinner too. 



With abundant jokes and laughter at this quaint exchange 

 of labor and offices, which usage exacted for the day, we 

 tore ourselves reluctantly away at last, as our impatient host 

 shouted, amidst peals of laughter 



" Come, boys, come ! You are worse than Pagans for 

 they were willing to meet death with the hope of being 

 served by Houries in the other world, while you are afraid 

 to meet a little ducking, with the same prospect of being 

 waited upon by them at dinner time in this !" 



" Ha 1 ha 1 that will do ! Let us be off, as we are Chris- 

 tians I" Off we were at a sharp gallop, led by the Planter, 

 who, in about fifteen minutes, wheeled into a country road, 

 which soon led us down the steep bank to a ford below 



