100 HUNTING SPORTS OF THE WEST. 



soon came to the place where he had killed the buck, 

 and covered it with leaves ; the skin had been so mauled 

 that it was useless, but I stripped off the panther's, and 

 set out on my return to my camp, deciding to go back to 

 old Slowtrap's, and to commence my march on the 

 Ozark mountains as soon as possible. 



On arriving at the camp, I tied up the skin with strips 

 <)f bark, and although I took very little of the venison 

 with me, I had a heavy load. I reached Curly 's in 

 the evening. As it was nearly dark, I had no fancy 

 for crossing the river at night, and creeping for half an 

 hour through a cane-brake, with the chance of getting 

 my eyes poked out ; so I remained with Curly. The 

 house was small, but it contained two large bedsteads, 

 one table, three chairs, two plates, and one cup ;. a hole 

 in the wall did duty for the absent window. 



We passed a very pleasant evening. Curly sang well, 

 and gave us a number of Irish comic songs, till, tired 

 with laughing and the severe exertions of the day, I 

 rolled myself in my blanket, and laid myself by the fire. 

 I was up at daybreak, and the river being low, waded 

 through, hastened to Slowtrap's, and spread out my 

 skin. Slowtrap was out shooting wild fowl, which 

 had collected in such numbers on a little river, running 

 into the Fourche le Fave, that I never saw anything 

 like it ; they positively covered the water, and a good 

 double-barrelled gun might have done immense havoc, 

 particularly as the steep banks favored the approach to 

 within thirty yards of the ducks. 



Supposing the old fellow not to be far off, I took my 

 rifle, and lounged down to the brink of the river ; not 



