152 WILD SPORTS IN THE SOUTH. 



four and a half drachms of powder to one ounce of shot. The 

 general mistake is too much shot for the powder. 



Sometimes we would come across a floating log surrounded by 

 feathers, and worn smooth by the tread of the wood- ducks that 

 would sit here half the day pluming themselves by the mirror of 

 the water. The hazel-breasted drakes here displayed their Tyrian 

 plumage and elegant shapes to their dove-eyed consorts, and 

 scolded away the little bitterns that alone could compare in beauty 

 to themselves, and who alike with them inhabited these great 

 morasses. We sometimes would float on one of those happy 

 families, dozing away the sunny hours, and they would arise, when 

 we were close upon them, in the greatest disorder. The ringing 

 of a half dozen shots, the fall of the game, the shout and laugh, 

 would end the scene, and break upon the stillness of the solitude 

 with a burst of fun and activity all the wilder for being so rarely 

 heard in the marshes. 



We had almost reached the confine of the open water, when 

 Jackson fired at a black duck flying overhead, and it fell in the 

 water, wing-broken, and immediately dived. He commenced, with 

 the assistance of the Doctor's boat, to look for the game, probing 

 with his paddle the bunches of floating sedge near by, while I, 

 lying a little farther off, was watching their search. While thus 

 engaged, I happened to notice under the water a duck swimming 

 toward the surface; it was the wounded duck trying to escape. 

 Then his bill protruded from the water, the duck in the meantime 

 keeping his head and body completely hidden. I leaned over my 

 boat and caught the nose of the cunning fellow, bringing him 

 above water amid the shouts of the negroes who witnessed the 

 duck's ingenious trick. 



Being joined by Mike, who had turned aside to get some roots 

 with which to colour deer-skins, we all passed through the narrow 

 outlet of the marsh, and turned toward the low islands, where it 

 was said we could find snipe. 



"Round that grape-vine point!" called out Jackson, as the 

 headlands we had passed in the morning again opened to our 

 view. 



The paddles had been exchanged for oars, and with long, 



