262 



THE HUNTER'S ARCADIA. 



in animals that, as a rule, took this world easily, 

 and had become fat through always looking at the 

 bright side of life. 



" Fire, did you ? " I can hear the reader ask. 

 Yes, I did fire, and both barrels, too. The bullet 

 of the first went into space, for it left no indication 

 of its lodging-place. That out of the second hit 

 the ground about ten yards in front of me, my 

 judgment in elevation being evidently very, very 

 faulty. 



Such want of success was trying, no one will 

 doubt. However, I was prepared to put up with it ; 

 but when the Bechuana commenced to reproach me in 

 the choicest epithets of that most melodious language, 

 I felt "mean," deuced mean, which is always a bad 

 state for a Christian to be in, particularly an educated 

 one, for when a man fails to respect himself he 

 is in a truly deplorable condition. 



Our journey home did not take long, for it was 

 not interrupted by a flow of conversation or a feast 

 of good fellowship ; in fact, I don't think either of 

 us cared much how soon we parted company. For 

 my part, I rather think I should have preferred the 

 parting, for then I should not have to listen to 



