26 WILD 8POETS IN THE 80UTH. 



naturalist would be beyond expression exciting, would 

 be dull to the reader. Therefore, in a long winter's trip, 

 that extended from the Suwanee River almost to Oke- 

 chobee Lake, I can only recall those scenes that remained 

 most strongly on my mind after the lapse of months, 

 and which sometimes, when my brain is most active, 

 will come up to me in my dreams, when in sleep I hear 

 the wash of waves and the ringing music of hounds and 

 guns, and the frantic rush of the chase in the deep ever- 

 glades of the Seminoles. Yet there are many little 

 minutia3 of an extended hunt to explain, as they form the 

 regular duties of camp life. 



After the breakfast has been dispatched, the one sauce- 

 pan, one coffee-pot, and two tin coffee cups, are neatly 

 cleaned, the two little vagabond horses which are pos- 

 sessed by the party are caught and led up with leading 

 ropes around their necks. They are vicious, ragged-look- 

 ing little beasts, but invaluable as pack-horses. On their 

 backs we strap a couple of blankets folded in half; over 

 that a little open frame-work, in which and to which we 

 may fasten anything- that is to be carried. This novel 

 pack-saddle resembles a kitchen chair turned upside 

 down. In it is put the little box containing our salt, 

 pepper, vinegar, cloves, lard, etc., little matters, but of 

 great use we familiarly called the box "the kitchen;" 

 also a small keg of powder, a bag of shot, another of bul- 

 lets, caps, needles, thread, scissors, etc., then a joint of 

 venison, or a turkey, or any article of food, the Doctor's 

 trophies, skins of birds, skulls of animals, or strange 



