188 
WILD SCENES AND SONG-BIKDS. 
had collected. The ladies very soon rid themselves of their 
now superfluous bonnets, shawls, gloves, kc, while we, their 
unfortunate gallants, were permitted but little time to con- 
gratulate them upon the comforts of this disembarrassment, 
and their promised repose in the cool shade, for the jovial 
voice of our host promptly recalled us to a sense of service 
imposed upon us for the morning by the usage of the occa- 
sion. 
^' Come, boys ! The girls can take care of themselves 
now. The seine's all ready down at the mill. Mount! 
Mount !" 
This imperative summons was not very promptly obeyed, 
for young men would, naturally, after such a ride, be in no 
great hurry to exchange the exhilaration which deliciously 
lingered under the warm glances of their fair companions, 
for a cold plunge into the river to drag the seine for fish. 
This was our duty, and the young girls teazingly assured us 
that they would not touch or serve up a single mouthful for 
our dinners, if we did not drag the seine and catch the fish 
ourselves. But we managed to find consolation in the fact, 
that, if we were compelled to catch the fish, they had to 
cook them under old Jim's supervision, and wait on us at 
dinner too. 
With abundant jokes and laughter at this quaint exchange 
of labor and offices, which usage exacted for the day, we 
tore ourselves reluctantly away at last, as our impatient host 
shouted, amidst peals of laughter — 
" Come, boys, come ! You are worse than Pagans — for 
they were willing to meet death with the hope of being 
served by Houries in the other world, while you are afraid 
to meet a little ducking, with the same prospect of being 
waited upon by them at dinner time in this !" 
" Ha ! ha ! that will do ! Let us be ofi*, as we are Chris- 
tians !" Off we were at a sharp gallop, led by the Planter, 
who, in about fifteen minutes, wheeled into a country road, 
which soon led us down the steep bank to a ford below 
