378 WILD SCENES AND WILD HUNTERS. 



deliberately, and ate as much as I cared at once, raw ! and 

 then, with the first prayer of Faith, of thanksgiving, and of 

 praise that ever breathed upon my lips, sunk back, and was 

 sound asleep in a moment. 



I slept for twenty-four hours, as near aa I can judge. 

 On waking, I finished the remainder of the squirrel, and 

 felt quite able to walk again ; though, on attempting to rise, 

 I staggered sorely for awhile. But the conviction that I 

 should meet with no further difficulty, had become a matter 

 of such positive certainty, that I never dreamed of a doubt. 



" The evidence of things unseen" had reached me through 

 the material at last. Faith looked farther and higher than 

 the senses. I knew that I knew ! The Penates of the soul, 

 the image of the desolation and the humble instrument, had 

 assumed their holy niches ! I was happy, full of love, and 

 humble. Spring-time visions came again. The brazen, 

 glowing sky, and the red, cloudy earth, had passed from 

 before my eyes, and the blue heavens and a natural sun 

 were over me. The ice-ring melted from around my heart, 

 sense and thought and brain were clear again ! The madness 

 had passed away. I clapped my hands and laughed aloud 

 for joy ! 



In about two hours I saw two men on horseback, herding 

 a drove of cattle. I was not surprised. I expected something 

 of the sort. The men rode towards me. I saw they were 

 Mexicans. I knew there was nothing to expect from these 

 traitorous wretches, by fair means, so I concealed my gun 

 by running it*. up my hunting-shirt, and waited for them to 

 come within range. They approached very cautiously, and 

 when they were within thirty paces of me, I drew my gun 

 suddenly forth and brought it to bear upon them. They 

 were desperately frightened, and would have wheeled and 

 galloped off, but something in my look showed that I was 

 not joking. I ordered them up to me, dismounted the one 

 on the best horse, took his seat, waved my hand in adieu to 



