THE QUIET CAMP. 331 



saddled, and hitched for a little while to a hook in the 

 wall of the cabin, had been carried off. On hearing this, 

 I issued orders to my men to picket my horses directly in 

 front of my ambulance, and the mules also, in as close 

 proximity as possible, and to keep a good look-out. 



It was a very pretty sight, on that beautiful evening, 

 to see Taymouth and Sylph quietly whisking their long 

 tails at the flies, while they ate their corn close to me, 

 with the bay horse and my favourite mule mare very near 

 them, the rest around me, and no other sound to be heard 

 than the tinkling of the pony's gathering bell, and the 

 chorus of frogs, crickets, and grasshoppers of every sort 

 and kind, which made the cover close to me alive with 

 minstrelsy loud as the song of birds. It was very enjoy 

 able, all this ; and when I dined, on the seat of the am 

 bulance, on broiled partridges, and a couple of hard 

 eggs, hot rolls, fresh butter, cheese, sardines, and potted 

 cherries, with sherry and brandy, and good water for 

 coffee at command, I looked at the watchful and affec 

 tionate faces of my dogs, and as far as the hour went, I 

 thought we had not much reason for complaint. On the 

 following morning I had resolved to trot on ahead with 

 my ambulance, and reaching St Joseph early, there to 

 prepare stables and good accommodation against the 

 arrival of my camp ; but a most agreeable intervention 

 of sport prevented my putting that idea into execution. 



We were astir before daybreak in the morning, and by 

 half- past eight were in the town of Achinson, waiting to 

 be put across the river. This feat having been duly ac 

 complished, I found that the greater part of the day's 

 journey lay through the primeval forest on the banks of 

 the Missouri, the forest trees very large, and the scenery, 

 as a woodland, wild and beautiful. In wending my way 



