404 WILD BEASTS AND THEIR WAYS CHAP. 



river. We must kill n calf, and have veal cutlets, and a heap of 

 dishes out of that. We must open some cans of vegetables ; 

 tomatoes and cutlets will make a capital dish. Preserved pears 

 and thick cream ; stewed peaches ; but we have no game." I 

 modestly suggested that I might ramble through the willows, and 

 perhaps get some wild ducks. The idea was at once seized upon, 

 and every member of the party set to work to carry out his or her 

 share of the arrangements. But where were they all to sleep ? I 

 had two small tents and camp-beds. The ladies could sleep 

 together in a room, and the men must lie upon the floor on mat- 

 tresses and blankets for one night. 



There was a great bustle in the little establishment. Peters 

 and Alston cleared away packing-cases, boxes, and a heap of articles 

 that occupied the hall. Both these energetic workers were quickly 

 armed with brooms, and the room was thoroughly swept out. A 

 table was cleverly arranged. Mrs. Peters produced a beautiful 

 new table-cloth, which was in itself an emblem of civilisation, and 

 my wife and her hostess then sallied out to search for some wild 

 plants to decorate the table. There were wild hops in profusion, 

 growing within 150 yards of the house. Berries of bright red, 

 and coloured leaves were found, all of which were prettily arranged 

 in designs which reminded us of home. 



I left this domestic felicity, and took my gun in search of wild- 

 fowl, while Peters and Alston went off with a scoop-net to catch 

 some fish. They knew a particular pool about half a mile distant 

 which would yield a good supply. 



If a photograph had been taken of the operation, these two 

 young men would have represented ancient Britons without the 

 ornament of woad. They stripped themselves quite naked and 

 entered the pool. The first step, or rather " plunge," consisted in 

 disturbing the water, when a particular kind of fish known as a 

 " sucker " at once retreated in shoals beneath the hollow bank. 

 The waders, or bathers, then advanced, and thrust the net into the 

 dark recesses of the asylum, pushing the hoop of the net to the 

 bottom, and gradually raising it towards the surface In this 

 manner they captured a large number of good fish, from half a 

 pound to rather more than a pound each. I did not witness this 

 operation, as I was occupied in searching for wild-fowl along the 

 marshy borders of the Powder river. 



Having several times crossed and recrossed the river by walking 

 rather more than knee-deep, I had come to the conclusion that my 

 subscription to the dinner would be rather invisible, and I should 

 feel ashamed to be present at the table without having at the least 



