Skittebing and Bobbing. 431 



eluded, instead of returning down the river to camp, to 

 build a fire and sleep under a tree, so as to be on the 

 ground at daylight in the morning, with the strong prob- 

 ability of another deer or several turkeys. 



We did not wish to cut into the venison, as we intended 

 to give it to a " cracker " family near our camp, the head 

 of said household being down with " the shakes." We had 

 only the liver of the deer for supper, and wishing to vary 

 it with some other viand, concluded to try for a black bass 

 in the river. 



Happening to have a fish-hook in my pocket, I cut off a 

 piece of the deer's tail, and made a "bob." Then, cutting 

 a long, slender pole, and tying the bob to the end with a 

 piece of strong twine some three feet long, we got into the 

 boat, my comrade paddling and I manipulating the bob. 



The sun was at the edge of the horizon, a huge ball of 

 crimson fire, the atmosphere being somewhat smoky from 

 fires kindled by the Indians to burn ofE the old grass in 

 order to make a fresh " burn " for the deer to feed on. 



The river expanded just above into quite a shallow lake, 

 well grown with lily-pads, bonnets and saw-grass, through 

 which meandered several channels of open water. As we 

 approached the lake, toward the sun, it seemed that these 

 channels were filled T^jith liquid fire, and the occasional 

 leaping of a mullet, or dropping in of a small alligatpr, 

 served to heighten this effect, and to simulate sparks and 

 flames. The pure white wings of the egret, as it flitted 

 over the water, seemed like miniature sails on a rubescent 

 sea. 



As my companion noiselessly paddled the boat along the 

 fringe of rank grasses and luxuriant aquatic vegetation, T 

 danced the bob along and over the water, now low, now 

 high, and now dipping in the water — skimming, leaping 



