MAJOR GASDEN's STORY. 275 



was an unnecessary quantity of laughter, particularly by 

 a gentleman at the foot of the table, presuming I sat at 

 the head. This person, however, had a sparkling eye 

 and a rubicund nose, and I concluded that he was easily 

 pleased, and thought nothing more of the matter; at 

 the same time feeling great sympathy for my friend ou 

 my right, whom I set down as a very bashful man. 



" The venison, all trembling about in its dish, with 

 its spirit lamps, and wine condiments, was very beautiful 

 indeed, but to me not so much of a rarity as it would 

 have been, had I not lived in a country where deer were 

 plenty. Determined to call out the bashful man, I ob- 

 served to him if I had had the arrangement of the 

 dinner, I should have ordered roast beef, as I had un- 

 derstood New Orleans was growing quite celebrated for 

 that dish. The bashful man smiled, the rest of the 

 table were delighted, and it was agreed that it was a 

 most valuable suggestion. 



" Thus encouraged, I went on to inform all present, 

 that, the sweetest venison I ever tasted was while 

 ' travelling ou the frontier ; ' that it was not cooked 

 like the steaks in the chafing dish before us, but merely 

 jerked off" of the carcass, thrown on living coals of fire, 

 and then while steaming hot, devoured with the simple 

 addition of jKjpper and salt. Hereupon the gentleman 

 with the rubicund nose, told the bashful man that this 

 second suggestion of mine was invaluable, and another 

 unnecessarily hearty laugh followed. 



