34 



RECREATION. 



The men had just time before dark to 

 stretch the deer skin, and collect a little 

 wood. Then the lantern was lighted, and 

 the inevitable game of casino was soon in 

 progress. The Amateur Trappers were in- 

 veterate drinkers. Their beverage consist- 

 ed of -cold water in a quart bottle, with 

 enough pure cane syrup to sweeten it right, 

 then a few drops of vanilla. After being 

 well shaken it would foam like beer, and 

 the 2 heathens were foolishly fond of it. 

 On the evening in question they played a 

 game to see who had to mix the bottle. 

 Mose got the short cards. Then they 

 played another, to see who drank the first 

 half. Uncle Snap won. 



"If I don't win the last half," muttered 

 Mose between his teeth, "I am going to tear 

 up the whole world." 



Fortunately he won, and the catastrophe 

 was averted. 



The following day they found a little 

 otter sign, and set a few traps. The knoll 

 was infested with swamp rabbits, and after 

 dark their queer little belching cries could 

 be heard in all directions. The bones were 

 cut out of the venison hams, and they were 

 salted, and hung every evening in the smoke 

 of the camp fire. In 4 or 5 days they were 

 well cured, and steaks cut trom them were 

 much more tender than when fresh. 



The Trappers stayed at the deer camp 

 several days without taking any furs, but 

 the fishing was of the best. Across the 

 river opened the mouth of a lagoon, and a 

 few casts there with a spinner, , about sun- 

 set, were sure to result in a boiling of the 

 water, and a singing of the reel, enough to 

 bring back life to a mummy. The bass 

 were large, 5, 6, and 8 pounds being noth- 

 ing unusual. Of course the largest ones got 

 away, but it was not the fault of the little 

 Bristol rod. 



The men fished until they caught, the size 

 they wanted, putting the others back. Uncle 

 Snap was at the paddle and Mose standing 

 in the bow of the little "Get There," manip- 

 ulated the rod. He cast the spoon into a 

 little reach of open water, reddened by the 

 setting sun, and worked it along in a series 

 of zigzags, close to the border of lily pads. 

 Suddenly there was a commotion. The 

 water boiled, miniature whirlpools formed, 

 and the spoon hook departed for scenes un- 

 known, encouraged on its way by the joyful 

 screaming of the reel. 



"Ouch !" yelled Mose, as he burnt his 

 thumb, braking the line. 



"Hold, 'im, hold 'im !" shouted Uncle 

 Snnp, dropping his paddle in the excitement. 



"Get us into open water, quick," said his 

 pard, who had finally checked the rush ; but 

 great bends of perspiration and anxiety be- 

 dewed his noble brow, for the outfit was in 

 a narrow channel in the field of pads, and 

 it was 50 yards to the open safety of the 



river. Desperately Uncle Snap strained to 

 back the boat to safety, but all in vain. 

 The little rod bent double, the reel gave a 

 short, despairing "zee-e," the nearest bunch 

 of lily pads was violently convulsed a mo- 

 ment, and then Mose sank dejectedly into 

 the bottom of the boat. 



"Gosh," was all he said. Uncle Snap 

 gazed with pity on his prostrate friend, al- 

 though his own heart was nearly broken. 



As they untangled the spoon from the 

 lily stems, and paddled across to camp, they 

 discussed the fish, its size, strength, etc. ' 



"Did you see its side when it broached 

 the first time? It looked 3 feet long. I 

 could see the streak along its side." 



"When it opened its mouth that time to 

 shake out the hook, I could have thrown 

 , my- hat down its throat." 



"Its tail was like this paddle blade." 



These and like remarks were exchanged 

 paddling back to camp, but the regret of 

 the Trappers was lessened as they realized 

 they had no use for the escaped monster, 

 for 2 big bass lay in the bottom of the boat 

 awaiting the knife. The Trappers fried the 

 fish and ate supper as the streak of red in 

 the West faded gradually to blackness and 

 the swamp rabbits began to play about and 

 work off their queer little vocal efforts. 



Early the next morning the Trappers left 

 the deer camp, and paddled nearly all day 

 before they found a place that suited them. 

 The spot finally selected was under a great 

 live oak, thickly hung with moss, growing 

 on a dry, sandy ridge, surrounded by wil- 

 low and saw grass swamp on all but the 

 river side. This camp site was on a blind 

 channel, a -quarter of a mile off the main 

 stream, out of the track of river travel. 



Fresh otter sign was found on the shores 

 near, so the men went to work, and put up 

 a comfortable camp under the great oak. 

 It was a pretty spot, and the A. T.'s sur- 

 veyed their little canvas-roofed home with 

 great satisfaction. They finished by sun- 

 set, and jumping into the canoe, started for 

 a likely looking place for a bass, a short 

 distance down stream. They were just get- 

 ting the rod together when, with a great 

 roar of wings, and musical chattering, an 

 immense flock of rice birds passed close 

 overhead, making for their roosting place 

 in the swamp. Seizing the gun, which, 

 since the otter episode, was never left be- 

 hind, Uncle Snap blazed into the thick mass 

 of birds, and 22 plump little brown balls 

 descended into the river, their companions 

 continuing on their way, without apparently 

 noticing the misfortune of their fellows. 



Putting up the rod again, the Trapners 

 gathered up the game, and in half an hour 

 the birds were ready for the fire. Uncle 

 Snap built up a big blaze of dead oak limbs, 

 while Mose cut 2 wallow switches of the 

 proper size, and after carefully salting the 



