METAPHYSICS OF BEAR IIUNTINO. 349 



Indians to fight. He would not and could not conceive the 

 possibility of the tawny rascals interposing "betwixt the 

 wind" and that odorous revelation. " Faugh ! give me an 

 ounce of civet!" good apothecary, he would ejaculate, with 

 the parenthetic addition, " or bear-steak and honey would do 

 as well," Avhenever the thing was mentioned by us. Remon- 

 strate as we might, he would see and know of nothing else 

 ahead but these rare delicacies ; nor could he be induced to 

 make provision in his equipments for any thing other than 

 securing them. He had gotten hold of something he called 

 a bear spear, which a wag had quizzed him into believing 

 to be an infallible weapon in hunting that animal ; then, in 

 addition, slinging a small axe to his saddle-bow, to be used 

 in cutting out the honey, along with a huge pair of holster- 

 pistols, he declared himself, with great vivacity, "Ready, 

 boys !" 



We tried to induce him to throw away his spear and take 

 a gun. " Never ! What, would you have me unsteady my 

 nerves by lugging a great gun ? How shall I then be able 

 to dissect with that nicety of skill so indispensable to attain- 

 ing the true flavor of a bear-steak ? You are surely demented 

 gentlemen !" and spurring his bob-tailed and vicious-looking 

 pony into a canter, he led the way out of the square. We 

 were all soon clattering after him. 



It requires precious little time, after an expedition has been 

 determined upon, for a troop like this to get ready for it ; with 

 his rifle, his pistols, his bowie knife, his tin cup, "water 

 gourd," buffalo robe, lariat, Mexican bridle, saddle and spurs, 

 the jolly Ranger feels himself prepared to go wherever his 

 horse can carry him, and to meet " all imminence the gods 

 address their dangers in !" He never troubles himself to-day 

 about what he shall eat or what he shall wear to-morrow; 

 for, so long as his eye is true, and his aim steady, his good 

 rifle will supply him with meat for food, and skins for clothes ; 

 and what more could any reasonable mortal ask ? 



