The negroes must have thought it was our intention to remain in the woods all the rest of our lives, judging by the care they had taken in fitting up the camp.
The shanty was tight, and would have kept us dry if it had rained buckets. It was built with its back to the wind and the front open to the fire; and looking inside, we saw five beds neatly made up on the floor, which was thickly covered with leaves.
On one side of the shanty was a supply of wood for the fire, and on the other was the wagon, beside which stood a span of mules, contentedly munching their corn.
Sam, one of the negroes, was exploring a huge mess-chest in the wagon, and bringing to light the good things mother had put up for us, now and then turning his head to look at the brace of wild ducks and the half a dozen squirrels that were broiling on the coals.
I shall never forget that camp. It served us as our “headquarters in the field” for many a year, and one memorable night was the scene of one of the most exciting adventures that ever befell our fellows.
“Not a single turkey have we seen yet,” said Mark, as we drew up around the fire. “Have you boys been on the island to look at that trap?”
“Yes, sah,” replied Sam, “an’ it’s done tore down. But I built it up ag’in, an’ throwed corn all around it. I reckon we’ll get some turkeys outen dar afo’ night, ’kase Cuff is hid in the bushes watchin’ de island, an’ if dat dar Mason boy comes pokin’ round ag’in, he’ll get cotched.”
We felt better then, and told one another that that Mason boy’s tricks were at an end, for that day at least. We talked the matter over while we were waiting for our dinner, and decided upon a plan of operations.
The island on which our trap was built was a noted place for turkeys. If there were any in the woods, they were always to be found there, and the secret lay in the fact that the island produced an immense quantity of beechnuts, of which turkeys are very fond.
We had made our camp about half a mile from the bayou, and our object in doing so was that the turkeys might not be frightened away by the smoke from our fire.