192 WILD SPORTS IN THE FAB WEST. 



some grains of Indian corn were scattered about, and 

 a tree showed signs that a horse, who had left unmis- 

 takable marks of his teeth in the bark, had been 

 tethered there. 



According to appearances, this person had not left 

 his halting-place above an hour, and as the dew and 

 hoar frost still lay on the leaves and grass, his trail 

 towards the south-east was easily traceable. After 

 following for a short distance, I heard a shot, hastened 

 towards the sound, and came up just as the object of 

 my search was mounting his horse. A broken-up deer 

 was hanging to a tree, and four dogs came barking 

 towards me. It turned out to be a man of the name 

 of Pearce, a dweller in the neighborhood, with whom 

 I was slightly acquainted. We greeted each other 

 heartily, and were mutually delighted at the chance 

 meeting, he assuring me that nothing could have given 

 him greater pleasure than falling in with me, as he had 

 discovered a tree a few days back in which the marks 

 left it out of doubt that a bear must be concealed. He 

 had killed the deer as he came along, and hung it up, 

 intending to carry it home on his return. I readily 

 accepted his proposal to join him, and we hastened 

 towards Brushy lake, which we soon reached, but too 

 far south ; so we had to go up the stream. 



As we were bojh tired, we bivouacked early in the 

 afternoon, on an elevated tract of land, and stretched 

 ourselves comfortably before a warm fire. I had half a 

 turkey remaining, and Pearce had bear, deer, and coffee, 

 so I need hardly say that we made a good dinner. 



We passed a quiet night, and the sun was well up 

 before we commenced our march. About ten o'clock 



