302 WILD SPORTS IN THE SOUTH. 



leaving Mike, Poke, and myself, again to our own re- 

 sources, awaiting some opportunity for tlie indulgence 

 of our roving propensities. But roving propensities were 

 now only to be indulged under military escort, or else at 

 the risk of our hayr^ as the hunters pronounced it ; so 

 for the first few weeks we contented ourselves with the 

 curious scenes that were daily transpiring in the inclosure 

 of the fort, or the most limited walks directly around the 

 pickets. Occasionally some scout would come in with 

 the report of a soldier, or a runner, lying dead on some 

 of the routes, and a guard of soldiers would be sent out 

 to bring in the body, and give it a burial in the little 

 burying-ground that was located just beyond the picket. 

 The sight of the revolting exhibition of Indian warfare, 

 however, soon passed by, and we forgot the terror that 

 environed us in our desire for activity, and the enjoyment 

 of the sports of the chase and the observations of the 

 varied beauties of animal and vegetable life so prolifically 

 developed. 



Is it strange that, when the morning reveille of bugle 

 and drum awoke the loud gobble of the wild turkeys not 

 yet flown from their roosts on the cottonwood trees on 

 Hillsboro' River, we could not resist the call, but would 

 occasionally steal out with our rifles, "jist to clair out 

 our shootm' irons," as Mike said. Day by day these 

 little excursions extended themselves, and we became so 

 accustomed to the danger, that, like the villagers that 

 build on the slopes of Vesuvius, we had forgotten the 

 fires beneath. 



