GREAT EGG HARBOUR. 607 



separated, one only keeping us company. The night was dark and 

 gloomy, but the sand of the road indicated our course very distinctly. 

 Suddenly the gallopping of horses struck my ear, and on looking 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 informed 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 crash ; then 

 for a few moments all was silent ; but the neighing of the 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 road side. 



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 sunbeams 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 inter- 

 vals 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 

 odour of which filled me with delight. In half an hour more, we were 

 in the centre of Great Egg Harbour. 



There I had the good fortune to be received into the house of a 

 thorough bred fisherman-gunner, who besides owning a comfortable cot 

 only a few hundred yards from the shore, had an excellent woman for a 

 wife, and a little daughter as playful as a kitten, though as wild as a sea- 

 o-uU. In less than half an hour, I was quite at home, and the rest of the 

 day was spent in devotion. 



Oysters, though reckoned out of season at this period, are as good as 

 ever when fresh from their beds, and my first meal was of some as large 

 and white as any I have eaten. The sight of them placed before me on 

 a clean table, with an honest and industrious family in my company, 

 never failed to afford more pleasure than the most sumptuous fare under 

 different circumstances ; and our conversation being simple and harmless, 

 gaiety shone in every face. As we became better acquainted, I had to 

 answer several questions relative to the object of my visit. The good- 

 man rubbed his hands with joy as I spoke of shooting and fishing, and 

 of long excursions through the swamps and marshes around. 



