THE FOX "STOLE AWAY." 109 



his left hind leg ; and throwing away everything that 

 hindered me in running, I darted after him. Dragging 

 his wounded leg, he limped along the side of the hill ; 

 but, finding that I gained on him, he turned towards the 

 summit. I had run for a good half mile, and too much 

 out of breath to breast the hill, I soon lost sight of 

 him. Heated and tired, I returned to the horse, pick- 

 ing up my rifle, powder-horn, pouch, and cap, by the 

 way, enveloped myself in my blanket, and mounted my 

 patient steed. 



I soon crossed the highest summit of the range, and 

 running down by the side of a small stream southwards 

 from the hills, in about an hour and a half arrived at the 

 place where Collmar's house was to be built, and where 

 some of those who had arrived before me were occupied 

 in cutting the logs. 



The ground was already prepared and planks cut ; 

 other neighbors arrived from time to time with their dogs 

 and guns, and the clearing was filled with laughing, talka- 

 tive groups. 



The horses were hobbled near some reeds, with plenty 

 of maize shaken down in a dry place. In the evening, 

 we all assembled at Collmar's hut, or rather shed, formed 

 of boards fastened together, supported by poles, and con- 

 taining three roughly-hewn bedsteads, a weaver's loom, 

 and two spinning-wheels. It may have been about fifty 

 feet long and twenty wide, with the floor as nature sup- 

 plied it. Rifles and saddles lay about ; three pairs of 

 deer hams adorned one corner, and dried pumpkins hang- 

 ing to poles, formed the sky to this paradise. 



Immense blazing logs were heaped up in one blackened 



