131 PRAIRIE AND FOREST. 



I was not far from animal life. By degrees I in- 

 creased the diameter of my circling search, and was 

 all but returning, satisfied that my own excited im- 

 agination had been playing me tricks, when I came 

 across the wide-spread deep impressions of an immense 

 bear. Whatever others might think, in such utter 

 desolation and loneliness, it was pleasing to learn that 

 Bruin was my foe instead of a stealthy red-skin. 



After turning my nags loose that they might graze 

 upon the bunch grass which was abundant in the 

 bottom lands beneath my encampment, I examined the 

 stock of food in the larder, and found, as I almost 

 could have foretold if I had thought upon the matter, 

 that it was reduced to one rib of venison, and that but 

 poorly provided with meat. Submitting it with hungry 

 eyes to the smoke and ashes, I observed with anything 

 but gratified look that the eatable portion rapidly di- 

 minished under the effects of the fire. When it was 

 sufficiently cooked to become eatable there was not 

 more left than would have satisfied the appetite of a 

 hungry tabby. Nevertheless I ate and was thankful, 

 consoling myself with the hope that ere the sun 

 reached the meridian I should shoot something suf- 

 ficiently substantial to afford a good meal. But no 

 such fortune was in store for me. I tramped over 

 fell and valley, through bush and over open valleys, 

 and nought rewarded my search but innumerable 

 tracks so old and stale, that it would have been 

 madness to follow them up. 



Weak from want of food, and anxious to know 

 whether I was doomed to die of starvation, I returned 

 to camp dissatisfied, more than angry, with myself that 

 my love for adventure and wandering had reduced 



