108 AMERICAN GAME BIRD SHOOTING. 



pity that he had not adopted novel writing as a profes- 

 sion, as ho was evidently a better novelist than a hotel- 

 keeper. This sally evoked so much laughter that we 

 were surprised at it, until we subsequently heard that the 

 man was famous for his penuriousness, and the dirty 

 character of his house. We wandered about the town 

 until seven o'clock, then retvirned to the hotel aud 

 asked for our guide, and were told that he could not 

 come until the next morning. Not caring to lose 

 any more time, we hitched up our horses, as we in- 

 tended to reach a camping ground in the forest by ten 

 o'clock. The Boniface urged us to remain all night, 

 and finding that we would not, he charged us a nice 

 round sum for the honor of knowing him. The bill 

 was paid without protest, but one of the party took the 

 opportunity of telling him what he thought of his char- 

 acter; but he might as well have bayed the moon as 

 talk to him, so far as wounding his feelings was con- 

 cerned, for he had none except those which referred to 

 money. We drove away from the hamlet at a rapid trot, 

 and were soon speeding towards a farm-house about five 

 or six miles distant, where we were told we might find a 

 guide. We missed the road, however, and by ten o'clock 

 found ourselves following a regular cow-path through the 

 forest. 



Knowing that we had lost our way, we halted, took 

 out our blankets, picketed the horses, and having lit a 

 fire, were about sitting down when we w^ere startled by 

 the barking of some curs. Thinking there might be a 

 pioneer's shanty nearus, we seized our guns, and started 

 in the direction of the barking, but the dogs receded as 

 fast as we advanced, until we suddenly found ourselves 

 in a small Indian encampment, which seemed to swarm 

 with snarling curs, and terrified babies. Some of the 

 braves advanced to meet us, and greeted us with a cheery 

 " Qla-how-ya," a salutation which we cordially returned. 



