THE PECCARY. 131 



made our way through the canes which separated 



us, and in the midst of a clear space, about twelve 



5'ards across, we found the bear at bay at the foot of 



the tree. The dogs, taking fresh courage from the 



arrival of their masters, at once rushed on the 



enemy and quite covered him with their bodies. 



Neither Mr. Morgan nor myself could fire, for fear 



of killing one of the dogs. Meantime, the bear was 



dashing off the dogs to the right and left, when, 



suddenlj^ the whole party (bear, dogs, hunters, and 



all) was charged by a herd of peccaries. No one can 



imagine the scene of confusion which ensued, — the 



cries, howls, and general rush from the scene. The 



dogs fled with their tails between their legs ; the 



bear, maddened with the bites which he had received, 



alone held his ground, and by the liberal use of 



teeth and claws distributed death around. " Off 



with you, all," cried Mr. Morgan ; and his brother 



and the negi'o were not slow to echo the cry. Thanks 



to the swiftness of our steeds, we were not long in 



regaining Mr. Morgan's plantation, and when I once 



got safely home, I carefully folded up the remnants 



of my shooting-jacket as a relic of my first encounter 



with the peccaries of North America. 



Not very long after this adventure, I happened to 



embark on board a steamer at Galveston, on my 



way to New Orleans. In the evening, a Texan 



trapper, who was seated in the cabin with his friends 



around him, all plentifully supplied with brandy 



K 2 



