voyage of the paper canoe-第36章
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In a cold rain the canoe reached the little village of Swansboro； where the chief personage of the place of two hundred inhabitants； Mr。 McLain； removed me from my temporary camping…place in an old house near the turpentine distilleries into his own comfortable quarters。
There are twenty mullet fisheries within ten miles of Swansboro； which employ from fifteen to eighteen men each。 The pickled and dried roe of this fish is shipped to Wilmington and to Cincinnati。 Wild…fowls abound； and the shooting is excellent。 The fishermen say flocks of ducks seven miles in length have been seen on the waters of Bogue Sound。 Canvas…backs are called 〃raft…ducks〃 here； and they sell from twelve to twenty cents each。 Wild geese bring forty cents； and brant thirty。
The marsh…ponies feed upon the beaches； in a half wild state； with the deer and cattle； cross the marshes and swim the streams from the mainland to the beaches in the spring； and graze there until winter； when they collect in little herds； and instinctively return to the piny woods of the uplands。 Messrs。 Weeks and Taylor had shot； while on a four…days' hunt up the White Oak River； twenty deer。 Captain H。 D。 Heady； of Swansboro； informed me that the ducks and geese he killed in one winter supplied him with one hundred pounds of selected feathers。 Captain Heady's description of Bogue Inlet was not encouraging for the future prosperity of this coast； and the same may be said of all the inlets between it and Cape Fear。
Rainy weather kept me within doors until Friday； the 7th of January； when I rowed down White Oak River to Bogue Inlet； and turned into the beach thoroughfare； which led me three miles and a half to Bear Inlet。 My course now lay through creeks among the marshes to the Stand…Back； near the mainland； where the tides between the two inlets head。 Across this shoal spot I traversed tortuous watercourses with mud flats； from which beds of sharp raccoon oysters projected and scraped the keel of my boat。
The sea was now approached from the mainland to Brown's Inlet； where the tide ran like a mill…race； swinging my canoe in great circles as I crossed it to the lower side。 Here I took the widest thoroughfare； and left the beach only to retrace my steps to follow one nearer the strand； which conducted me to the end of the natural system of watercourses； where I found a ditch； dug seventy years before； which connected the last system of waters with another series of creeks that emptied their waters into New River Inlet。
Emerging from the marshes； my course led me away from New River Inlet； across open sheets of water to the mainland； where Dr。 Ward's cotton plantation occupied a large and cultivated area in the wilderness。 It was nearly two miles from his estate down to the inlet。 The intervening flats among the island marshes of New River were covered with natural beds of oysters； upon which the canoe scraped as I crossed to the narrow entrance of Stump Sound。 Upon rounding a point of land I found； snugly ensconced in a grove； the cot of an oysterman； Captain Risley Lewis； who； after informing me that his was the last habitation to be found in that vicinity； pressed me to be his guest。
The next day proved one of trial to patience and muscle。 The narrow watercourses； which like a spider's web penetrate the marshes with numerous small sheets of water； made travelling a most difficult task。 At times I was lost； again my canoe was lodged upon oyster…beds in the shallow ponds of water； the mud bottoms of which would not hear my weight if I attempted to get overboard to lighten the little craft。
Alligator Lake； two miles in width； was crossed without seeing an alligator。 Saurians are first met with； as the traveller proceeds south； in the vicinity of Alligator Creek and the Neuse River； in the latitude of Pamplico Sound。 During the cold weather they hide themselves in the soft； muddy bottoms of creeks and lagoons。 All the negroes； and many of the white people of the south； assert； that when captured in his winter bed； this huge reptile's stomach contains the hard knot of a pine…tree； but for what purpose he swallows it they are at a loss to explain。
In twelve miles of tortuous windings there appeared but one sign of human life a little cabin on a ridge of upland among the fringe of marshes that bordered on Alligator Lake。 It was cheering to a lonely canoeist to see this house； and the clearing around it with the season's crop of corn in stacks dotting the field。 All this region is called Stump Sound； but that sheet of water is a well…defined； narrow； lake…like watercourse； which was entered not long after I debouched from Alligator Lake。 Stump Inlet having closed up eighteen months before my visit； the sound and its tributaries received tidal water from New Topsail Inlet。
It was a cold and rainy evening when I sought shelter in an old boat…house； at a landing on Topsail Sound； soon after leaving Stump Sound。 While preparing for the night's camp； the son of the proprietor of the plantation discovered the； to him； unheard…of spectacle of a paper boat upon the gravelly strand。 Filled with curiosity and delight； he dragged me； paddle in hand； through an avenue of trees to a hill upon which a large house was located。 This was the boy's home。 Leaving me on the broad steps of the veranda； he rushed into the hall； shouting to the family； 〃Here's a sailor who has come from the north in a PAPER boat。〃
This piece of intelligence roused the good people to merriment。 〃Impossible！〃 〃A boat made of paper！〃 〃Nonsense！〃
The boy； however； would not be put down。 〃But it is made of paper； I tell you； for I pinched it and stuck my nails into it；〃 he replied earnestly。
〃You are crazy； my boy；〃 some one responded； 〃a paper boat never could go through these sounds； the coon oysters would cut it in pieces。 Now tell us； is the sailor made of paper； like his boat？〃
〃Indeed； mother； what I tell you is true； and； O； I forgot！ here's the sailor on the steps； where I left him。〃 In an instant the whole family were out upon the veranda。 Seeing my embarrassment； they tried； like well…bred people； to check their merriment； while I explained to them the way in which the boy had captured me； and proposed at once returning to my camp。 To this； however； they would not listen； and the charming wife of the planter extended her hand to me； as she said； 〃No； sir； you will not go back to the wet landing to camp。 This is our home； and though marauding armies during the late war have taken from us our wealth； you must share with us the little we have left。〃 This lady with her two daughters； who inherited her beauty and grace of manner； did all in their power to make me comfortable。
Sunday was the coldest day of the season； but the family； whose hospitality I enjoyed； rode seven miles through the woods； some on horseback； some in the carriage； to the little church in a heavy pine forest。 The next day proved stormy； and the driving sleet froze upon the trees and bound their limbs and boughs together with an icy veneer。 My host； Mr。 McMillan； kindly urged me to tarry。 During my stay with him I ascertained that he devoted his attention to raising ground…peas； or peanuts。 Along the coast of this part of North Carolina this nut is the chief product； and is raised in immense quantities。 The latter state alone raises annually over one hundred thousand bushels； while Virginia and Tennessee produce； some years； a crop of seven hundred thousand bushels。
Wednesday opened with partially clearing weather； and the icy covering of the trees yielded to the softening influences of a southern wind。 The family went to the landing to see me off； and the kind ladies stowed many delicacies； made with their own hands； in the bow of the boat。 After rowing a half…mile； I took a lingering look at the shore； where those who four days ago were strangers； now waved an adieu as friends。 They had been stript of their wealth； though the kind old planter had never raised his hand against the government of his fathers。 This family； like thousands of people in the south； had suffered for the rash deeds of others。 While the political views of this gentleman differed from those of th
