354 The Wilderness Hunter. 



their places were taken by yellow blossoms, elsewhere by 

 white. Generally each band or patch of ground was 

 covered densely by flowers of the same color, making a 

 great vivid streak across the landscape ; but in places they 

 were mixed together, red, yellow, and purple, interspersed 

 in patches and curving bands, carpeting the prairie in a 

 strange, bright pattern. 



Finally, toward evening we reached the Nueces. 

 Where we struck it first the bed was dry, except in occa- 

 sional deep, malarial-looking pools, but a short distance 

 below there began to be a running current. Great blue 

 herons were stalking beside these pools, and from one we 

 flushed a white ibis. In the woods were reddish cardinal 

 birds, much less brilliant in plumage than the true cardinals 

 and the scarlet tanagers ; and yellow-headed titmice which 

 had already built large domed nests. 



In the valley of the Nueces itself, the brush grew 

 thick. There were great groves of pecan trees, and ever- 

 green live-oaks stood in many places, long, wind-shaken 

 tufts of gray moss hanging from their limbs. Many of 

 the trees in the wet spots were of giant size, and the 

 whole landscape was semi-tropical in character. High 

 on a bluff shoulder overlooking the course of the river 

 was perched the ranch house, toward which we were bend- 

 ing our steps ; and here we were received with the hearty 

 hospitality characteristic of the ranch country everywhere. 



The son of the ranchman, a tall, well-built young 

 fellow, told me at once that there were peccaries in the 

 neighborhood, and that he had himself shot one but two 

 or three days before, and volunteered to lend us horses 



