234 THE WILD TURKEY. 



a passage in a boat which brought cord-wood for fuel 

 from the mainland, for the purpose of having a look at 

 the country ; and after a voyage of about sixty miles 

 over the bay we entered a sluggish stream called Cedar 

 Bayon. 



The bayou was about fifty yards wide, clear and 

 deep. Huge trees grew up on either side, casting such 

 a gloomy shadow on the water that it appeared black, 

 although when dipped up in a pail it proved clear as 

 crystal. The course of the river was very winding, and 

 the breeze being kept off by the forest, it was necessary 

 to pole the boat eight or ten miles up to the yard where 

 tne cord-wood was to be obtained ; and as it was nearly 

 evening when we entered the bayou, the captain de- 

 termined to moor her to the bank for the night, and 

 pole up in the morning. 



But that, of course, was no business of mine. So 

 while our worthy G-erman skipper was preparing supper, 

 I produced a fish-hook and line, by the aid of which I 

 soon landed some fine fish, which served admirably to 

 help out the fat pork and corn-bread which would 

 otherwise have been our sole food. Soon after supper 

 I was fast asleep. Long before it was daylight, my 

 slumbers were disturbed by the monotonous tramping 

 of the men on deck, as they poled the boat up against 

 the current ; and, finding it perfectly impossible to get 

 any more sleep, I turned out of my blanket and plunged 

 head foremost into the creek. After the refreshing 



