TURKEY-HUNTING. 3 



The serried leaf of the palmetto fringed us around like a hedge, 

 and above us spread the tassels of the pine-trees just discernible 

 against the morning sky. Once in a while a bird twittered in the 

 trees, now and then a sound like dropping rain was heard, where 

 some animal shook the dew-laden branches. All else was still, 

 save the quiet murmur of the sea on the beach, some little distance 

 off Its low roar lulled the sleepers ; but the thought of game 

 moving in the early hours awakened me, and, taking my rifle, I 

 sauntered down the bank of the river. The air was clear and 

 cool, and all nature seemed to be coming forth to salute the day. 

 The quail whistled in the distance, and a mocking-bird on the 

 summit of a pepperidge tree poured out his volume of song. The 

 grey and fox squirrels leaped from bough to bough, or half descend- 

 ing the great trunks of the oak-trees, challenged with pert gestures 

 the passers-by. Long trains of cormorants sailed overhead to their 

 feeding grounds, and with measured beat the ibis and heron were 

 slowly passing seaward. Flocks of ducks were feeding on the 

 margins of the river, and the various tribes of woodpeckers, jays, 

 and hawks, flitting among the trees; but none of these excited 

 attention : they were rather the constant sights that one sees with- 

 out regarding. At length the gobble of a turkey came faintly on 

 the air. I have heard that sound often before, but one can never 

 listen to its first clear note without a flutter of delight, that I 

 verily believe is greater than that of its sweetheart, as she listens 

 from the jungle to this the loud love-call of her mate. It 

 apparently does not strike the ear, but the heart, and then tingles 

 outward through every nerve. There may be something in this of 

 early association, but it is one of the pleasantest that a man has in 

 this world, and which so often makes him rich when he has never 

 a sou. I stopped short and listened for a repetition of the sound, 

 to tell from what direction it came, and also for any answer that 

 might come back, as by directing my course toward the latter I 

 could intercept the cock when he should take his course. The 

 hundred little beings that talked around me in their various 

 tongues were all speaking. Yet I could hear no cluck of hen, or 

 responsive gobble of the younger cocks of the brood. Again the 

 call was repeated. First a low chuckle, and then the rich guttural 



