250 WILD SPORTS IN THE SOUTH. 



This sudden satirical salutation brought the boats to a halt, 

 and sent half the soldiers searching about for their muskets. 



"Where are you from, and where to?" was the answer of the 

 officer. 



" Oh, cross country, goin' a-pleasurin'," responded Mike. 



" Seen any Indian signs ?" 



" No signs in partickalar ; stopped at Tiger Tail's camp a piece 

 back," replied Mike, gradually moving down the river, and away 

 from the boats. 



" That 's the band we are after. How soon do you think we 

 will come up to them ?" The boats getting further off all the time. 



"When the river freezes!" responded Mike, paddling down 

 stream at full speed. "Ketch a fish-hawk jist as soon," he con- 

 tinued in an undertone. 



The boats had resumed their course, when the officer, who 

 seemed to know our hunter, hailed us once more. 



"Hulloa!" 



" Hulloa !" said Mike. 



" Come and guide us, and you will be well paid." 



" No ; you 're too many of you, 'taint no use ;" and a turn of 

 the river carried us out of sight. 



That night we camped early, secure from annoyance, for the 

 passage of the troops up the river had, we judged, driven away 

 any lurking Indians. Indeed, the only band in the St. John's 

 which we were approaching had been Tiger Tail's, the rest being 

 occupied with the treaties and negotiations that had been in pro- 

 gress on the west coast So we kindled our fires and cooked our 

 meal, and laid down to talk and dreams. 



Mike assured us that he had no tales to tell, mumbled about 

 Tiger Tail, and wondered where he was leading his band, then 

 ventured some remark about Lou Jackson, half to himself and half 

 to his hound, and then fell asleep. The doctor being called on for 

 a story, gave us an account of a fire-hunt in the woods of the 

 Adirondac. As nearly as I can remember, it was as follows. I 

 can't repeat the words, only the ideas. They were pleasant; he 

 was a poetical fellow, that Doctor, when it grew late in the 

 evening. 



