218 IN THE OLD WEST 



hunter, with a loud shout, rushed frantically to- 

 wards it, and bore it in triumph to tJie camp, earn- 

 ing the most sovereign contempt from the two 

 trappers by the achievement. 



The other stranger was a quieter character. 

 He, too, smiled as he witnessed the exultation of 

 his younger companion (whose horse, by the way, 

 was scampering about the plain), and spoke kindly 

 to the mountaineers, whose appearance was clear 

 evidence of the sufferings they had endured. The 

 snakes by this time were cooked, and the trappers 

 gave their new acquaintances the never-failing in- 

 vitation to *' sit and eat." When the latter, how- 

 ever, understood what the viands were, their looks 

 expressed the horror and disgust they felt. 



" Good God ! " exclaimed the elder, " you surely 

 cannot eat such disgusting food? " 



" This nigger doesn't savy what disgustin' is," 

 gruffly answered Killbuck ; " but them as carries 

 empty paunch three days an' more, is glad to get 

 snake meat, I'm thinkin'." 



*' What! you've no ammunition, then? " 



" Well, we haven't." 



" Wait till the wagons come up, and throw away 

 that abominable stuff, and you shall have some- 

 thing better, I promise," said the elder of tlie 

 strangers, 



" Yes," continued the younger ; " some hot pre- 

 served soup, hotch-potch, and a glass of porter, 

 will do you good." 



