THE BATTUE ON BOND A KEY. 119 



" Go along with you ! " 



" Yah ! yah ! yah ! I knowed de niggah lie ! " 



As the noise and hurry progressed, breakfast began to smoke 

 on the fire, the boats were launched, and in a few minutes every- 

 thing was ready for the chase, while a hearty breakfast of venison 

 and fish was spread before us, and the sun arose in the woods on 

 the shore, and his level beams trailed the smoking water, and 

 painted the tops of the taller island trees with golden tassels. 



The hunt was arranged by the dogs being led to the end of the 

 island, not far from where we* were camped, and thrown off, and 

 all the party were to follow, as they came up, either on foot or in 

 boats. One boat was to keep on each side of the island, close 

 enough in-shore to shoot any game that might take to the beach ; 

 the rest of the hunters, with all the negroes, were to follow the 

 dogs, and, keeping at equal distances apart, and to beat down the 

 island, and thus drive before them everything that would run. As 

 the chase progressed, it would come to the narrower portion of 

 the island, and thus the men would come closer together just at 

 the time when the game would be most anxious to turn back, 

 so that they could form a barrier through which nothing could 

 return. 



After all had reached the point agreed upon, and taken their 

 stations, Mike harangued them, telling what should be done. Lou 

 Jackson was in one boat, with Rosa to paddle; the Doctor in 

 another, to guard the other side, and all the rest were to follow the 

 hounds. Scipio had been sent at starting to the other end of the 

 island, in a canoe, to lie close to the nearest shore, to head off 

 anything that should attempt to cross to the main. 



" Now remember ! " said Poke to Jackson, just as the hounds 

 were being loosened. 



" What ? " 



" Thirty centuries look down upon you from those gum-trees." 



" Shough ! Go ahead all ! " shouted Jackson, " and don't you 

 boys bother the rabbits." 



The hounds were cast off, and with their noses high in air 

 coursed into the underbrush, and with yelp and cry the boisterous 

 crew of coon-dogs and half-breeds rushed in their wake, while the 



