24 DESERTED CAMPING-GROUND. 



the length of time it has remained submerged, in 

 order to save itself from the unrelenting terriers ? 

 If you have indulged in such a chase you will- 

 know what they call in Scotland his drookit state. 

 Such is the expression which will give the best idea of 

 my appearance at daybreak on the following morn- 

 ing. A bright sun and a clear sky, however, pre- 

 vented me from yielding to depression of spirits, and 

 as I had not yet obtained a camping-ground suited 

 to my fastidious taste, a further advance to the 

 north was undertaken. Game was more abundant 

 than usual, and the first buffalo (Bison Americanus) 

 which I had seen for a month was discovered in 

 some low ground, half meadow, half swamp. Not 

 being partial to beef of so tough a nature as this 

 veteran was certain to make, I left him alone in his 

 glory. 



About half-past three I came to a spot which had 

 evidently been used as a camping-ground; though 

 from the rotten state of the few scattered camp 

 poles, and the ashes (ever tell-tales of the existence 

 of fire) having vegetation protruding through them, 

 I came to the conclusion that the place had long 

 been deserted. It was, however, an excellently 

 selected site, and I determined to remain there for 

 the night. 



For days there had been to the north-west of my 

 line of march a mountain peak, I should imagine 

 quite as lofty as the highest point of the Sierra 

 Nevada. In shape it was like a sugar-loaf, with an 



