The Meridional. (Abbeville, La.) 1856-1906, 1888-06-09
the sole occupants of the island.

ing the pace entirety Toid OF mos
quit0es. Concentrating ourselves
Oh our good lack. we secnred and
then proceeded TO unload the boat.
After a hasty supper and the lneTit.
able cup ol coffee, followed ~ Q
social smoke. we spread our blankets
upon the shells ana were so0a in
the land Of dreams.
Daylight oa Shell Island. How
shall | describe the effect produced
on tie kcen sportsman, who, cap Of
coffee in hand. stands gazing at the
rcd sun just rising above lis watcrv
bed? Beautiful. clear, bright; not a
cloud to mar the deep blue of tho
sky, except q thin grayish haze on
the eastern horizon; . cool, pleasant
breeze blowing from the north
cast-numcrous shoals Of mul'et
darting up from the water in their
cnGeavor to escape the pursuit Of
some larger ish-screaming Sea gnils
and c%hattering blackbirds. While
slipping a cup Of coffee, douhIy deli
c;ous, in the bracing atmosphere. /
could not hut think what d delight
full place to spend q few days Of
leisure. Local sportsmen have camp
cd here on this little mound Or shells
for years, and doubtless the aborlgi-
MES used it Tor the same purpose, as
numerous bits Of broken indian
pottery scattered among the shells
give ample evidence Of the fact.
Doubtless poor 10 eat, drank, fshed,
fought, made love and was scalped
on this bit Of land, long before his
pale faced brother came over the
water. wouldlikc 10 have fingered
a while longer; but the wind being
fair, and we had yet 10 reach Hell
Hole" before it changed. we hastily
embarked and hosting sail. skinned
gallantIy before the freshening breeze
In q few minutes we had passed
Buck Point, then Mad Point, then
straight across to the mouth Of the
canal, through which we entered
Oyster Lake.
The lake, gIistening in the slant
ing sunlight, presented the appear
ance Of a great sheet Of FURNISHED
metal. We were at a loss to nndcr-
stand why the waters were SO
smoothe and CLASSY considering the
freshness Of the breeze, until one Of
the party on dipping an a found
less than twelve inches Of water
Advancing farther into the lake we
began to drag, and from there on
our progress was very slow, alter
nately sailing and sliding through
mud and water until we had reached
and entered Oyster Bayou, through
which we continued our course
Having had a narrow escape from
being stranded on one Of the numer
Gus mud banks in the lake, it vas Q
merry crew who, q few minutes after,
sailed out into the bay proper
Finally We hove in sight Of our DIES
tination. Away of on our starboard
bow-about five or six miles distant
-glistening in the sun, appeared
the white she'll bank of"EIell Hole:'
and with its appearance came visions
Of oyster stews, fried oysters, oysters
on the half she'll. etc.
Hell Hole" at last! We ar
rived just as the tide was al
its lowest ehb. Acres and acres o.
the succnlent bivalve appeared pro
trading above the surface OF the shall
low water, and it was not long be
fore some Of the psrty had a hun
dred or two hcaped up near the
camp fire, which was built in the
meantime. Now began The work o.
unloading the boat, and putting the
camp in order; some were detailed
to drive states into the ground. tc
which we're hung mosqnito bars.
others gathered wood, while | was
unanimously elected to preside over
the culinary department. In q shor,
time the click, click" Of the oyster
knives, accompanied by the srut
tering Of boiling lard, made music
to II ears. For one long hour
and a half three men might have
been seen seated by three huge pile:
of oysters working away like
: beavers; and, as their piles gradu
ally decreased, casting longing