LETTEES FEOM ALABAMA. 
227 
dozen were selected^ nothing loth ; for Samho 
likes . the wild excitement of a hnntj especially by 
nightj as well as his betters^ and enters into it with 
as mnch zeal and zest. One or two were set to 
saddle the horses^ others to collect the dogs of the 
establishment, and others to search up axes for fell- 
ing trees, knives for clearing away tangled briers 
in the woods, and a few other small implements, 
while another was sent into the swamp to procnre 
a dozen pine-knots for torches. Meanwhile the 
overseer was busy with lead, ladle, and bullet- 
mould, at the smithy fire, casting ball for the rifles. 
These preliminaries disposed of an hour or more ; 
there was no hurry, for it would have been useless 
to go out until night was well commenced, as it 
was desirable to allow the depredators full time to 
issue from their retreats, and begin their nocturnal 
business in the melon-patches. 
About half-past nine, then, we set out, a goodly 
and picturesque cavalcade. There was, first, my 
worthy host, Major Kendrick, a stout sun-burnt 
fellow of six feet two, as erect as a sundial, griz- 
zled a little with the labours of some sixty years 
in the back woods of Georgia, but still hale and 
strong, with as keen an eye for a wild-cat or a 
’coon as the stalwart nephews by his side. His 
attire would be deemed peculiar with you, though 
here it is the approved thing. A Panama hat 
made of the leaves of the palmetto, split fine, low 
in the crown, and very broad in the flap ; a “ hunt- 
ing shirt,” or frock, of pink-striped gingham, open 
all down the front, but girded with a belt of the 
same ; the neck, which is wide and open, is bor- 
dered with a frill, which lies upon the shoulders ; 
loose trowsers, of no describable colour, pattern, 
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