78 HUNTING TRIPS 



merely a couple of dark-colored ponies. The 

 cowboy's chapfallen face was a study ; he had 

 seen, in the dim light, the two ponies going 

 down with their heads held near the ground, 

 and had mistaken them for bears (by no 

 means the unnatural mistake that it seems; 

 I have known an experienced hunter fire 

 twice at a black calf in the late evening, 

 thinking it was a bear). He knew only too 

 well the merciless chaff to which he would be 

 henceforth exposed ; and a foretaste of which 

 he at once received from my companion. 

 The ponies had strayed from the main herd, 

 and the cowboy was sent back to drive them 

 to the home corral, while Merrifield and my- 

 self continued our hunt. 



We had all day before us, and but twenty 

 miles or so to cover before reaching the hut 

 where the buck-board was to meet us; but 

 the course we intended to take was through 

 country so rough that no Eastern horse could 

 cross it, and even the hardy Western hunt- 

 ing-ponies, who climb like goats, would have 

 difficulty in keeping- their feet. Our route 



