THE CAMP FIRE. 27 



flowers or sketches. Then the coffee-pot, frying-pan, 

 etc., are hung on the perpendicular legs of the saddle, 

 two axes are strapped to the sides, and the ponies move 

 off after making two or three malicious kicks at the dogs 

 and bystanders. Mike leads the van with a cat-like 

 motion, his long rifle lymg on his arm, and followed by 

 his dogs. I generally came next in line, then the negroes 

 and the ponies, and then the Doctor. We passed for the 

 most of our tune through an open pine country with 

 a sandy soil. Here and there a grove of closer vegeta- 

 tion could be seen, and now and then a pool of water, 

 surrounded by o.aks and cypress, but generally the long 

 vistas of slender trees would only be interrupted by some 

 climbing plant, or the high knolls that traversed the 

 country, following the general course of the drainage of 

 the water. We only made one march a day of about 

 eight hours, and then selecting some spot for the beauty 

 of its location, or the abundance of its game, we pitched 

 our camp, built our fire, turned out our horses, that is to 

 say our ponies, and made ourselves as much at home as 

 though we never expected to change. There were many 

 days that we never broke up our camp, for the great 

 abundance of game would entice us to stay, and then our 

 resting-place gradually assumed a very comfortable 

 appearance. A tent of boughs carpeted with skins, a 

 a substantial fire, a well-stored larder, a pine slab table, 

 and the Doctor, half reclining, smoking his pipe, and 

 watching the frying joint, lest Wag should steal it, formed 

 an agreeable picture of contentment in low life, and made 



