140 AYILU SPOUTS ix TIIK FAK WKST. 



June 3rd, made the following compact. "\\'e agreed fo 

 Undertake the charge of S.'s cattle, to give them salt 

 in the little prairie from time to time, where a, tent was 

 to he pitched for us, and whither we were frequently 

 to drive them, to accustom them to it. We were to 

 receive one-third of the produce, namely: every third 

 calf, as our properly. S. bound himself to provide us 

 with pork, flour, coifee, sugar, and salt ; also, as soon as 

 he had time, to build a small house for us in place of the 

 tent. So far so good; but the final clause was a jewel, 

 and the Irish schoolmaster who drew up the bond 

 was not a little vain of his performance. It stated: 

 <; ^Neither of the undersigned parties is bound by this 

 contract, if any one of them should think that he could 

 do better elsewhere." The important document was 

 signed by both parties, S. making a cross, and then it 

 was carefully secured in S.'s strong box, the Irishman 

 putting the copy in his pocket, probably to show the 

 Avidow this specimen of his abilities. AVe shouldered 

 our rifles, and trotted off to reconnoitre our new 

 province. 



Uhl and I having separated, I shot a young deer, 

 but as it was too heavy to carry, I let it lie, and took 

 a direct line towards home, marking the trees with my 

 tomahawk as I went along. Suddenlv a hen turkey 

 flew up; before I could lire she was lost in the bushes, 

 but right, under my feet lay nine beautiful eggs, in a 

 nest made of dry grass. I sat. down to await the 

 return of the hen, but as she did not choose to make 

 her appearance, 1 took up the eggs and carried them 

 home, intending to rear them ; then I went with a 

 horse to pick up my deer. 



