Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1882-06-17
A DUCKING ADVENTURE.


to be flock of ducks fly over the plan,
tation, and asked Uncle Abner if they
had such fowls about in that section
He said yes, plenty of them; only not
such ducks as we had on the Atlantic
board. They were small, and apt to
have a musky taste; but by proper
cooking they could be made not only
palatable, but really fine eating. He
assured us that nanny understood how
to cook them fit for king.
My next question was, whether he
thought we could find some if we went
after them; and to this his answer was
equally satisfactory. He could take us
to a place where we should be sure TO
find some.
After this we were not long in agree
ing upon the sport of the day. We pre-
pared our guns, took drink and pro-
visions for dinner, and then set out.
Our host took one of his "boys" along
to help Fitzeben paddle the boat. This
"boy" was a big lump of darkey,
named Quimbo, about forty years OF
age, and blacker, if possible, than our
own Fitz. He was a comical genius,
full of fun, and withal a faithful fellow.
We had just reached the edge of the
bayou, where the boat was secured,
when Fitzeben declared that he saw a
duck.
"Ho Mars'r Ben, CUB us yer gun y
he cried, dancing about in his impa-
tience like a wild man-"Gub us Yer
gun. an I'll go an fotch um -
"You haint seen no duck" said Ben.
"By golly gosh, Mars'r Ben, uf !
didn't see duck yer may make duck
pie OBJ meyer may, suah y
Ben gave up his gun, and Fitz darted
off through an opening in the under
brush, where he had seen the duck go.
We heard the crashing of the bushes as
the old fellow rushed along, and pres.
emily we heard the report of his gun.
In few moments more he returned,
with the sweat rolling down his face
the gun III one hand, and in the other o
bird.
"Dar Look a dat, yer ole fat mis-.
belieber y he cried, shaking his game
in Ben's face. ''What yer call dat, yei
great mount'n ob flesh? Tell dis ole
darkey him can't find duck Go long
wild yer. What yer call dat p
Ben gazed upon the bird which Fitz
shook so exultingly in his face, but he
could not speak. He could only clap
both hands upon his diaphragm and
roar outright.
BY this time we had all seen old Fitz's
duck, and such another succession Of
uproarious bursts never heard. The
intense pride and pomp of our darkey
in his supposed luck, added to the
triumphant manner in which he swung
the prize aloft, afforded about the most
ludicrous picture i ever beheld.
"'Taint duck T. finally bnrst from
Ben's lips, as he Strengthened up for O
moment, and then bent over again to
ease the shaking of his fat sides.
"By golly gosh You say dat amt a
duck You don't know muffin ~ ex-
claimed Fitz, Indignantly. Mars'r Smit'
what yer call dis ere bird. ell p
"What is it % gasped Uncle Abner,
straining with all his power to over.
come his laughter. "Why-that's one
of-my old black hens p
And so it was. The poor thing had
wandered away from the house, and
Fitzeben had found it, The darkey had
heard MS say that the ducks about there
were entirely different from the ducks
upon the eastern shores, and he had
supposed that this was one of them,
sure enough.
Well, now jes' look heah, yer need
MT laff so at it. By golly gosh, ole Ber
Gilroy, uf don't laff at you afore long
den You say old Fitzeben nebber cotcf
duck y
Butthe laughter was not to be con
strained SO easily.
This circumstance put us in good
humor, and long after we had entered
the boat and pushed from the shore
burst after burst of laughter rang ou
over the murky waters of the bayou.
Well have to pull out Of this plac,
before we find any game" said oul
host. "About two miles off there is al
arm of the bayou which has upon on,
side low, fiat shore covered with tai
reeds, and there are some tender roots
there which the ducks hunt for food"
So the two darkeys pulled away, ant
in the course of half TO three quarter
of an hour we entered the bay on wher,
We were to find The ducks. We entere,
! upon the northern side, while the shor