2Rfi WILD SPORTS IN THE SOUTH. 



the foliage on the light they thought had darkened for ever. The 

 whole temper of their meal was changed, and with diverted 

 glances and low conference they ate their food and glowered at 

 the star that shone so placidly in the horizon. 



Still another party, besides the sailor on the sea and Indians 

 at their camp, saw that star take its accustomed place in the dark. 



Mike was coming down the same lagoon when the far-floating 

 specks of the Indian canoes caught his eye and drove him to 

 cover. He hid his little craft in the palmetto bushes on the land, 

 and squatting beside it with his hound, the two watched the 

 savages pass and land on the beach opposite to him. There were 

 three canoes — that was the same number he had been tracking ; 

 there were no women with the party — that again tallied; here 

 were nine men, and there had been nine in Tiger Tail's party. 

 Had they sacked the light and left with the spoils ? This seemed 

 to be probable. This would be a likely result, in case the two 

 inhabitants of the Key were attacked in such a manner that they 

 could return but a single blow before they were overpowered. 



" Or it might turn up," quoth Mike, to himself, " that they 

 treed more 'n they could ketch, and were goin' off for a time on a 

 make-believe. Cum back, Yowler ; don't show your ugly mug to 

 them critters ; they know you better 'n their own squaws." 



And the old dog obediently resumed his place at his master's 

 side, and the couple quietly watched the open sound that had now 

 become too rough to cross in a canoe. 



" No, 'taint it," continued Mike, to himself. " They 've been 

 here four or five days. They wouldn't have sot there all that time 

 and done nothing. Wall, wall, time '11 show." 



The hunter nibbled his jerked venison, giving a bit now and 

 then to his dog, who sat with his head in his master's lap. He 

 saw the screaming gulls come landward, and the darkness gather 

 like a pavilion. He saw the light of the Indian fire, and the long 

 reach of Key Biscayne like a log on the wrathful sea, and the 

 breakers combing over either end. 



When the lantern suddenly looked down at him with its 

 tranquil eye, he sprang to his feet, exclaiming — " God is good ! 

 God is good to sinful critters. No daylight was ever so pretty to 



