Dan communicated his doubts and fears on this subject to Quin and Cyd, who immediately became very wise, and suggested a dozen expedients to meet the difficulty. Cyd proposed to forage on a plantation, which was immediately condemned as involving too much risk. Quin thought they might go to the nearest store and purchase food, as both Dan and Lily had considerable sums of money. This also was too dangerous. "What's de use stoppin here so long?" asked Quin. "The search for us has not ended yet," replied Dan. "But dey won't tink no more ob us in two monfs from dis yere time." "Very true; but the water will be so low that we can't get out of the lake in less than one month from now. We must stay here till next spring," added Dan, decidedly. "Wha--wha--what ye gwine to stop here a whole year fur?" demanded Cyd, with his usual impetuosity. "When would you leave?" "When de water gets high in de fall." "If we go to sea in the fall or winter, we shall meet with terrible storms in the Gulf. We should perish with the cold, or founder in a gale. We may have to be at sea a month. We shall have to meet our greatest perils after we leave this place." "Well, I s'pose you knows best, Dan; and we's gwine to do jus what you say," replied Quin, meekly. "Dem's um, Dan; you jus tell dis chile wot you wants done, and we's gwine to do notin but do it," said Cyd. "But we must have something to eat while we remain here," added Dan. "Dat's so; niggers can't lib widout eatin." "We can do as the Indians do--we can hunt and fish," suggested Dan. "Sartin--plenty ob ducks and geese, pigeons and partridges." "And we have fowling pieces, with plenty of powder and shot; but none of us are hunters, and I'm afraid we shall not have very good luck in shooting game." It was decided that Dan and Quin should try their luck on the following day; and having taken an early breakfast, they started in the bateau, rowing down the bayou in the direction of the lake. Dan was provided with a fowling piece, while Quin was to try his luck as a fisherman. The former was landed at a convenient place, while the latter pushed off into the deep waters of the lake, each to exercise his craft to the best of his ability. On the shore of the lake Dan saw an abundance of wild ducks; but they were so very wild that he found a great deal of difficulty in getting near enough to risk the expenditure of any portion of the precious ammunition which was to last a year. He fired twice without injuring the game, and began to think that he was never intended for a sportsman. The third time he wounded a duck, but lost him. This was hopeful, and he determined to persevere. At the next shot he actually bagged a brant, and, what was better, he believed he had "got the hang" of the business, so that he could hunt with some success.