154 



CHAPTER VIII. 



ECCENTRICITIES OF CATTLE RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS STRANGE 



CAPERS OF AN OLD DOE RATTLESNAKE KILLED BY A DEER THE 



BOBOLINK, OR REED-BIRD TRAIL OF INDIANS ATTEMPT TO 



BURN A BEAR OUT OF A CAVE ROUGHED GROUSE OBSTINATE 



COURAGE OF MY OLD GUIDE. 



As the night slowly darkened, and the landscape 

 became obscure, we started northward, moralising 

 over the question whether any one goes through this 

 earthly pilgrimage without trials. The old man's 

 story was a sad one ; but he had obtained retribution 

 for his wrongs. Was he to be blamed for seeking 

 it ? Possibly the extremely good may think so, and 

 be correct in their judgment. Yet if I, with the 

 benefits resulting from education, had been placed 

 in his position, I fear I should have done likewise. 

 You can no more mould all men into one common 

 pattern, than you can make china, porcelain, and 

 common delf out of the same clay. 



At daybreak we halted, tired and hungry. 

 Having eaten a little, I slept till after mid-day. 

 Determined to remain here for the night, that I 

 might again be able to travel by day, I wandered off 

 into the brush, to observe the animals in the neigh- 

 bourhood, and to be alone. 



