26 WILD SPORTS IN THE SOUTH. 



with the mysterious lulling influence with which nature affects us, 

 when, in camp, the mind is left open to its whisperings. 



The day dawned reluctantly, the morning after our crossing, and 

 so slowly the light broke through the mist that environed the 

 camp, that it was more like moonshine than daylight. Drip, drip, 

 pattered the gathering moisture from the cypress trees into the 

 pools beneath. The osier-grass bent down, heavy with the dew, 

 the fems were matted to the earth, and the glassy leaves of the 

 magnolia glinted with a double lustre of sheen and water. " Like 

 a sea fog landward bound," the warm fog shut us in, as did a few 

 hours before, the darkness. The voices of the night were hushed 

 with the dawning, and all animal life was motionless, save where, 

 now and then, from the invisible heights of the tree-tops, some 

 moving animal would shake down showers of drops. 



One by one the negroes came to life, and yawning and mutter- 

 ing gathered together the remains of the fire. The Doctor raised 

 himself on his elbow, and benignantly surveyed the dull circuit of 

 a dozen yards that the mist left open to his vision. The dogs 

 snuffed the air wistfully, looked into the trees, and sauntered out 

 into the mist, looming as large as the ponies as soon as they gained 

 a little distance. In a moment a sharp yelp was heard from one 

 of the smaller dogs. Again, after a pause, another, then a pro- 

 longed " yeough " from an old hound. 



" Whas dat air ! " said Scipio, raising his curly pate from the 

 coals that he was vigorously trying to blow into a blaze. 



" Nebber you attendsiate to de dogs, you lazy nigger; you cook," 

 retorted his comrade, and Scipio renewed his puffing. 



" Geow-ou-ou-ou ! " roared out all the dogs in chorus, with a 

 burst of clamour that awakened the sleepers, and before any one 

 could get to his feet a huge black bear, that appeared as big as a 

 bull, dashed out of the fog, followed by all the dogs in full cry, 

 right through the camp, scattering the fire, overthrowing Scipio in 

 the ashes, scaring the ponies from their tethers, and leaving the 

 Doctor sprawling on his back. 



"Bress de Lord!" shouted the negro, scrambling out of the 

 coals ; " did de Lord ebber see like o' dat ? " 



" Tally-ho ! " echoed the Doctor, hurriedly snatching an axe. 



