168 WILD SPORTS IN THE SOUTH. 



in a canvas bag, placed the bag in the pot which was kept simmer- 

 ing over the coals. Mike had cut several slices of venison, and 

 laying them across two iron ramrods as a substitute for a gridiron, 

 was carefully watching them cook, from time to time giving the 

 ducks a twist, that made them revolve on their gallows like 

 martyrs suffering two of the extreme penalties of the law at one 

 time. Jackson set up the snipe as sentinels around one side of 

 the fire, and the iron pot was hung over the coals, and in it was 

 placed bits of bear's meat and venison, the breast of cranes, pieces 

 of ship-biscuit, bits of pork, and all the little odds and ends of 

 game, which being fit for nothing else, seem especially intended for 

 making a stew. To this was added a wild pepper or two, and 

 some green leaves and roots that the negroes had gathered, and 

 every time the water bubbled a savoury smell issued forth that 

 made one entertain a more lenient opinion of Esau, in spite of 

 the thousands of years of misjudgment that have been visited 

 upon him. And lastly, as a crowning honour to the meal, a 

 pumpkin was produced ; a real golden pumpkin, with its honest 

 ochre face wrinkled into lines of swelling rotundity, and suggest- 

 ing the rows of rustling corn, among which it had obtained its 

 plethoric shape. The boys had brought it from the plantation in 

 the boat, and though some might say " there is an article that will 

 bother these improvising cooks," it was hailed with exclamations 

 of welcome. A plug was cut in its upper side, where the stalk- 

 joined the fruit, and when the piece was taken out it formed a 

 cover to the interior cavity, to which the short stalk answered for 

 a handle. The seeds were carefully removed from the interior, 

 and in their place was poured as much heavy brown sugar as would 

 fill the cavity ; when the cover was restored to its place, and the 

 emblem of plenty was seated in front of the coals, its jocund face 

 reflected the bright flames with a pleasant glow, like that which 

 shines on the countenance of an old patriarch, when down the 

 Christmas table peer the bright eyes of long lines of merry grand- 

 children. The turkey-hen had been in the meanwhile transfixed 

 on a stake, with its maw crammed with chestnuts, and was cluck- 

 ing its despite against its warm roost, vapouring out its savoury 

 humours, while Rose was squatted behind it, screening her face 



