160 WILD SPORTS IN THE SOUTH. 



didn't stop, and they tried to leave no trail themselves, and that 's 

 a bad sign. 'Twunt do any good to say so to your father, but you 

 kin make him do what 's safe, end so I tell you." 



" Thank you, Mike. I believe you know better than any one 

 about such things, but I do not believe father would leave now, and 

 I can't make him without a stronger reason than you have given." 



" Wall, look out ; and the time to look out is jist when every- 

 thing is oncommin pleasant, for that 's the blind with these sarpents. 

 Thar 's somethin' else I want to say, Miss Lou," continued Mike, 

 after a pause. 



Miss Jackson looked at the hunter as though inquiring his 

 wishes. She leaned against the prow of the canoe that was hauled 

 up on the beach, but did not say a word. 



* Wall, I was goin' to say that — that — wall, thar hain't been 

 many tiger-cats in Floridy, and ef thar hadn't been any, I reckon 

 I would hev got that one fur you, fur you know that ef a man — ef 

 a man likes anybody — as much as " 



Mike here made a long pause. Lou Jackson had gathered up 

 her cloak from the boat that she had apparently come down for, 

 and turning slowly toward the tents, seemed moving away. 



 Don't go yet, Miss Lou," said the hunter beseechingly. 



" I am in a great hurry," said the girl ; which, if so, was the 

 first time she had been in a hurry since coming to the island. 



" Wait one minute," besought Mike, brushing his hand across 

 his forehead ; u here 's the tiger-cat skin you once said you wanted," 

 unfolding, as he spoke, from under his hunting-coat, the flowing 

 robe of an animal gracefully patched with yellow and black. " It 's 

 tanned as soft as store-goods," he continued ; " I shot it this day 

 two weeks, and an Injin woman tanned it for me." 



" Thank you, Mike ; that is the prettiest skin I ever saw," 

 leaning her face down until it was hidden in the glossy folds of 

 the robe. 



" Wall, it is ; but I wish it was a heap purtier for you." 



Miss Jackson moved on toward the camp slowly, but Mike 

 stood with his hand leaning on the prow of the stranded boat. She 

 had gone a few steps, when, conscious that he was not following, 

 she said — 



