A SUMPTUOUS BREAKFAST. 131 



Before breakfast was quite ready, I went to the creek 

 which flowed at a few paces from our camp, to have a 

 good wash, and finding a hole with deep water as clear 

 as crystal, I threw off my clothes, and plunged under 

 the cool element. It was a delicious treat, and I did 

 not feel the cold till I got out ; but I was soon by the 

 fire, and by the time I had my clothes on, I felt such an 

 animating glow, and such strength, that I could almost 

 have torn an oak up by the roots. Old C. looked on 

 smiling, but thought it too cold to plunge in, and con- 

 tented himself with washing face, breast, hands, and 

 feet. Thus refreshed we sat down to breakfast ; turkey, 

 venison, coffee, and bread disappeared with terrific ra- 

 pidity ; even Bearsgrease appeared surprised, sitting 

 with his mouth wide open, though Conwell maintained 

 that he held it open more conveniently to catch the 

 morsels I threw to him, from time to time ; perhaps he 

 was right. 



After these trifles, half a turkey, and the greater part 

 of a haunch of venison had been safely disposed of to 

 the general satisfaction, we set off to look for the bear, 

 tokens of whose whereabout I had seen the day before. 

 On arriving at the place, the dogs showed signs of ex- 

 citement, and running down the steep they soon began 

 to give tongue. We followed as fast as we could, and 

 came to a large detached rock, behind which a cave ran 

 into the mountain. Several marks showed that the bear 

 was at home ; the dogs barked furiously, and I laid aside 

 my rifle and pouch, and was about to enter the cave 

 with my drawn knife, when bruin began to suspect mis- 

 chief. He was right opposite the entrance, but a slight 



