116 WILD SPORTS IN THE SOUTH. 



game of every kind, the fame of which led our party of hunters 

 with our hosts for a few days' hunting and sporting, bringing 

 tents, dogs, and servants enough to beat up all the woods on the 

 Gulf Coast. These species of hunts are frequent in the Southern 

 States, where time is not regarded with the monetary eye to value 

 with which it is measured in Doctor Franklin's proverbs, and 

 where an ample range of unclaimed ground is open to all that 

 choose to come and enjoy it. Such hunts are called marooning, 

 and we were marooners as soon as we had reached the low sandy 

 shore of Bonda Key, and pitched the two white tents that formed 

 our travelling homes. 



One hut was occupied by Poke, Jackson, and myself, the other 

 by Lou Jackson and her girl Rosa, a bright negress of the same 

 age as her mistress, and around the big fire a large row of screens 

 of blankets or evergreen branches sheltered the dozen negroes that 

 constituted our party. As to Mike, he always preferred to carry 

 up his canoe, and elevating the side next the fire on a stick, would 

 crawl under it and sleep like an alligator. 



In many respects our camp was more orderly than the planta- 

 tion house we had left. There were no sheep to tinkle and bleat 

 away the hours of the night, reminding you of your bed in the 

 Tyrolean chalet, with all the herds stabled beneath you. There 

 were no young negroes constantly disputing or tumbling under 

 your feet ; there was no Aunty Blase tyrannising over your culin- 

 ary department, and ordering around all the boys within reach. 

 But we still had one nuisance, in the shape of dogs — 



" Both mongrel puppy, whelp and hound, 

 And curs of low degree " — 



melodious hounds that bayed at the moon ; sullen dogs that 

 snapped at your heels ; insinuating dogs that crept under your 

 tent and into your arms when you are half asleep ; spiteful dogs, 

 with their voices attuned to the sharpest chords, " fit for treason, 

 stratagems, and spoils." All this mongrel herd had been kept in 

 peace at home ; some were quartered away from the house, some 

 were chained, and others meditative or sleepy. But here, as sure 

 as pleasant harmonies came over the soul, and the hush of sleep 

 fell on the camp, and the loudest sound abroad was the squeaking 



