146 AMERICAN" GAME BIRD SHOOTING. 



we became alarmed about him. A hasty consultation was 

 then held, and it was decided to go in search of him, as 

 it was evident that he was lost. We were exceedingly 

 anxious about him, as we feared he had met with some 

 mishap, for we well knew how numerous the wolves, 

 cougars, and bears were, and how little the cougars 

 thought of attacking a man if they were hungry. Light- 

 ing a jack-lamp, we seized our rifles, started into the 

 inky forest, and commenced shouting as we went along. 

 In the course of half an hour, perhaps, we received an 

 answering call, and a few minutes later we were shaking 

 hands with the vagrant punster. 



"Were you lost?" asked the doctor. 



"Lost! I was lost a million times. Why I couldn't 

 tell where on earth I was, and I could not get out of a 

 narrow circle in which I was travelling. I came back to 

 an old worm-eaten log every time I started away from it, 

 although I tried to change my course each time, but it 

 was no use, so I thought my doom would he to inspect 

 that log for the remainder of my days. " 



"This is no doubt a judgment on you for punning," 

 exclaimed the doctor, solemnly; " so you had better take 

 it to heart and turn over a new leaf." 



" I would rather have died in making a perpetual tour 

 of inspection of that old stump than relinquish such a 

 habit," said Smith, dramatically. " Now, away, and to 

 camp, that I may feast my eyes on the pots, for I'm 

 awfully hungry." 



To camp we accordingly returned, and found that we 

 had not come back too soon, as the wolves were prowhng 

 about it, in hopes of being able to steal something. A 

 few shots dispersed them in a hurry, but they retaliated by 

 serenading us from a distance, and making our lives mis- 

 erable. They even returned at a later hour, and tried to 

 impose on our confidence, but the dogs soon scared them 

 away, and a huge lire kept them at bay for the remainder 



