304 SPORT INDEED 



On the way to the plantation Ave had our first 

 experience in plucking and eating some rich, ripe per- 

 simmons that hung upon their trees at the roadside. 

 A thoroughly ripe and frost-nipped persimmon is al- 

 ways pleasing to my palate, but these were par- 

 ticularly so and met with all the appreciation they 

 deserved. 



The portion of the country through which we rode 

 is decidedly hilly, with deep ravines bordered with all 

 sorts and conditions of briars, blackberry bushes, 

 poison ivy and wild grape-vines. These afford rich 

 cover for rabbits, while the big fields of wheat stubble 

 and cow peas that clothe the tops and sides of the 

 hills are apt to lure the quail to roost and feed there. 

 And they do roost and feed there to some purpose, 

 for we found them as fat as butter, and so plentiful 

 that we were able to flush from twelve to fifteen 

 coveys a day. 



We brought with us on our trip a supply of bread 

 sufficient to last a week ; also some of the best tea and 

 coffee. We did so as a matter of discretion, for our 

 ears had been filled with queer stories of the "fried 

 things " and the curious liquids masquerading as " tea 

 and coffee " that lie in wait in this region to astonish 

 and upset the nerves of a civilized stomach. 



We reached our destination in the early afternoon 

 and were pleased to meet there a third member of our 

 party a young dentist. Men of his profession, I be- 



