A DAY AT CHEE-HA. 171 



the best hunting-ground in Carolina for which the 

 following reasons may be given. The lands are 

 distributed in large tracts ; there are therefore few 

 proprietors. The rich land is confined to the belt of 

 the rivers,, and there remains a wide expanse of bar- 

 rens, traversed by deep swamps, always difficult and 

 sometimes impassable, in which the deer find a 

 secure retreat. 



At a small hunting-lodge located in this region, it 

 has often been my good fortune to meet a select 

 body of hunting friends, and enjoy in their company 

 the pleasures of the chase. 



I give you one of my " days " not that the suc- 

 cess was unusual, it was by no means so ; but that it 

 was somewhat more marked by incident than most 

 of its fellows. "We turned out, after breakfast, on a 

 fine day in February, with a pack of twelve hounds, 

 and two whippers in, or drivers, as we call them. 

 The field consisted of one old shot besides myself, 

 and two sportsmen who had not yet " fleshed their 

 maiden swords." When we reached the ground, 

 we had to experience the fate which all tardy 

 sportsmen deserve, and must often undergo : the 

 fresh print of dogs' feet, and the deep impression 

 of horses' hoofs, showed us that another party had 

 anticipated us in the drive, and that the game had 



been started and was off. Two expedients suggested 



11 



