L 5 I 



EPISODES 



311 



gathered so many dozens of Marsh Hens' eggs. I in- 

 quired if the Fish Hawks were plentiful near Great Egg 

 Harbor, and was answered by an elderly man, who with a 

 laugh asked if I had ever seen the " Weak fish " along the 

 coast without the bird in question. Not knowing the ani- 

 mal he had named, I confessed my ignorance, when the 

 whole party burst into a loud laugh, in which, there being 

 nothing better for it, I joined. 



About midnight the caravan reached a half-way house, 

 where we rested a while. Several roads diverged from 

 this spot, and the wagons separated, one only keeping us 

 company. The night was dark and gloomy, but the sand 

 of the road indicated our course very distinctly. Sud- 

 denly the galloping of horses struck my ear, and on look- 

 ing back we perceived that our wagon must in an instant 

 be in imminent danger. The driver leaped off, and drew 

 his steeds aside, barely in time to allow the runaways to 

 pass without injuring us. Off they went at full speed, 

 and not long after their owner came up panting, and in- 

 formed us that they had suddenly taken fright at some 

 noise proceeding from the woods, but hoped they would 

 soon stop. Immediately after we heard a crack ; then for 

 a few moments all was silent; but the neighing of horses 

 presently assured us that they had broken loose. On 

 reaching the spot we found the wagon upset, and a few 

 yards farther on were the horses, quietly browsing by the 

 roadside. 



The first dawn of morn in the Jerseys in the month of 

 June is worthy of a better description than I can furnish, 

 and therefore I shall only say that the moment the sun- 

 beams blazed over the horizon, the loud and mellow notes 

 of the Meadow Lark saluted our ears. On each side of 

 the road were open woods, on the tallest trees of which I 

 observed at intervals the nest of a Fish Hawk, far above 

 which the white-breasted bird slowly winged its way, as 

 it commenced its early journey to the sea, the odor of 



fell! 



