248 WILD SPORTS IN THE SOUTH. 



travelling fur they paddle, leastwise the squaws do, as ef they were 

 tired. And there 's more on 'em somewhars, for there 's too many 

 squaws there fur that one red-skin. Keep quiet and they '11 show 

 their hand." 



Before night three other canoes passed the lake in the same 

 direction, and turned round the projecting point where they first 

 disappeared. 



The evening came on apace. The sun set — a globe of fire. The 

 pencillings of red on the lakes shortened ; and then disappeared. 

 The birds that had fished all day in the shallows settled in the 

 trees to roost. The earth wrapped itself in darkness as a mantle, 

 " and left to dews the freshened air." 



" Wall," said Mike, after a big yawn, " let 's do somethin'." 



" Yes, and that something must be to get out of this place as 

 soon as possible," quoth the Doctor. 



" No ! " replied Mike, with a comical accent. 



" It 's very well for you, Mike, who have a gift for Indians, to 

 hang about them, but I don't think I care to have my ears bitten 

 off, like Tustenuggee's aid-de-camp." 



" We 're all right so long as we squat here, and make no fire, or 

 any trails, but when we come to go away we may meet more Injins 

 in the river." 



" But the faster we go, the less likelihood of meeting." 



" Wall, we will go. — Shut up, Yowler, you dod-rotted dog ! " to 

 the hound, who was attempting one of his houndish yelps. " But 

 first I must see who them creeters is, and ef you '11 keep quiet here 

 awhile, I '11 go look." 



So, in spite of the general dissent, Mike took one of the canoes 

 and disappeared in the darkness, while the negroes crept up close 

 like monkeys, shivering with fear of the darkness and danger, and 

 we chatted in low tones of the scene around us. There was a steam 

 on the water that looked like a gathering fog, and made it dark close 

 to its surface. The night was hushed, and the heavy booming of 

 the alligator bull came down the lake like the muffled roar of a lion. 



In an hour Mike returned, with his quiet salutation, stepping 

 ashore and tossing something in the Doctor's lap, saying, " Thar 's 

 a cur'osity for your c'lection." 



