32 



THE SPORTSMAN'S PARADISE; 



rudely disturbed by the entrance of the guides, who were 

 talking and laughing joyfully, being in no manner re- 

 strained in their merriment by the presence of those whom 

 they had engaged to serve. Blankets were entirely dis- 

 carded by them ; they threw themselves down on the hay 

 without removing any portion of their wardrobes. The 

 Governor and his companions now discovered that the hay 

 on which they were reposing was not quite squal to a 

 spring-bed covered with a hair-mattress. Deep holes had 

 formed at various points beneath them ; they had slipped 

 from their blankets, on which they had intended to repose ; 

 their hair and clothing had become filled with hay-seed, 

 etc. ; and the advantages of the barn, which had been so 

 glowingly described to them by Chief John, were not fully 

 realized. The Governor never winced under these pecu- 

 liarly trying circumstances, a fact that has always been 

 regarded by the Scribe as a marvellous manifestation of 

 patience and fortitude on the part of one wholly unaccus- 

 tomed to hardships. Esculapius came to the front in the 

 morning smiling and happy. He evidently cared but little 

 for the trifling annoyance arising from hay-seed and the 

 irregular surface of the bed on which he had attempted to 

 sleep ; it had not endangered his life ; it could not be com- 

 pared with the danger that had threatened his life on the 

 preceding day, when he had so cheerfully parted company 

 with the little dog. The Scribe was not pleased with these 

 sleeping accommodations ; knew that they might be im- 

 proved ; but then there was some consolation in the 

 thouofht that he had suffered much less in this situation 

 than the Governor. 



