194 SUPPLEMENT TO THE BOOK OF THE BLACK BASS. 



which meandered several channels of open water. As we 

 approached the lake, toward the sun, it seemed that these 

 channels were filled with liquid fire, and the occasional 

 leaping of a mullet, or dropping in of a small alligator, 

 served to heighten this effect, and to simulate sparks and 

 flames. The pure white wings of the egret, as it flitted 

 over the water, seemed like miniature sails on a rubescent 

 sea. 



As my companion noiselessly paddled the boat along the 

 fringe of rank grasses and luxuriant aquatic vegetation, I 

 danced the bob along and over the water, now low, now high 

 and now dipping in the water skimming, leaping and fly- 

 ing till it seemed an uncanny thing, as indeed it was, a 

 cervine ignis-fatuus, a hirsute will-o'-the-wisp. 



Several Bass rose to it, and swirled at it, until one more 

 active than the rest grabbed it by a vicious lunge, and the 

 hook was firmly implanted in his jaw. It was the work of 

 but a minute to land him in the boat, and he was soon joined 

 by another, when we repaired to our camp-fire which was 

 now throwing a cheerful, ruddy light on the pines and pal- 

 mettoes. 



This was one of the occasions when the " bob," or the 

 skittering-spoon, or the trolling-spoon may be legitimately 

 used ; for we not only took great pleasure in the novelty of 

 the sport, but we enjoyed a rich repast that night after 

 roasting the Bass in their scales in the hot ashes, broiling 

 the deer's liver on a split stick, grilling a few crackers of 

 hard-tack, and making a cup of hot, strong coffee leaving 

 enough for a cold breakfast at daylight in the morning. 



