120 WILD SPORTS IN THE SOUTH. 



negroes, each armed with a big cudgel and a heavy knife, with 

 which to clear the vines, dashed off, yelping very much after the 

 manner of their dogs, cheering on their particular favourites 

 with endearing cries, and all were soon scattered out of sight 

 in the dense undergrowth that succeeded the sandy ridges and 

 level grass of the coast. From time to time, we could hear 

 their shouting, and the crashing that was caused by their pro- 

 gress, and when within sound, many a rough joke and laugh came 

 down the line. 



I was nearest the inner channel, and close to the beach. 

 Jackson was next to me, then Mike and the negroes all beyond, and 

 toward the open sea. At first we could not see each other except 

 at intervals where the woods opened, but as we advanced we came 

 into a less tangled ground, and we could maintain a connected 

 vision entirely across from one to another. 



" Thar 's deer," said Jackson, as we crossed the fresh tracks of 

 one. "And thar 's Beauty," continued he ; " do you hear her ? " 



" No, I cannot tell one from another ; they are all yelping, each 

 on a different track." 



A loud burst of voices from the negroes proclaimed something 

 started. 



"What's that, Mike?" 



" Coon," answered Mike. 



" No — thunder ! it 's a cat ; see it come." 



Grimalkin, however, did not like such a multitude of foes, and 

 turning to the right, shot in under the underbush ahead of us, 

 while two of the younger dogs came full cry on her heels. 



" There 's a coon — two of them ! " I shouted. 



" Out of the frying-pan into the fire, I think," said Jackson, as 

 they ran into the same thicket the cat had taken to. 



Here the bushes became so thick that I had to take my hunt- 

 ing-knife to cut my way and free my legs from the close binding 

 of tenacious green vines that seemed stronger than packthread 

 We could hear the dogs on either side yelping and scudding hither 

 and yon, and I at once saw the advantage of the mongrel pack we 

 were using. They wound in and out of every corner, and under 

 every fallen leaf where a hare could lie, yelping as poor puss 



