SIMPLICITY OF THE BACKWOODSMEN. 139 



I said that we sometimes planted trees, the children 

 shook their heads, and even the old ones thought that I 

 was practicing on their credulity ; they also wanted to 

 know if kings- and queens always wore their crowns, and 

 if they walked about with their sceptres, and what the 

 nobility looked like. 



Next morning, starting with the rising sun, we took a 

 direction towards the Richland and War-eagle, two 

 streams which flow into the White river. We took no 

 provisions with us, but rode out with only the blankets 

 on the horses, as Conwell supposed we should find plenty 

 of game. On arriving on our ground, we turned the 

 horses loose, who bent their steps homewards, grazing 

 as they went. We took different courses, agreeing to 

 return in the evening to the place where our blankets 

 were hanging up. I walked, cautiously and slowly, but 

 saw nothing of either deer or turkey ; once I heard the 

 report of C.'s rifle. When I returned to the camp I 

 made a good fire, spread my blanket, placed my rifle in 

 readiness, and laid me down to rest. About sunset I 

 heard a light step ; at first I thought it was a deer it 

 was Conwell, without game or dog. He sat down by 

 my side on the blanket, and observing that he supposed 

 I must be very hungry, he gave a faint smile, and said 

 that he could fast until to-morrow evening. He might 

 well laugh. He said his dog was after a deer which he 

 had shot, and, judging from the marks, he must have 

 been hit in the fleshy part of the haunch ; the dog, be- 

 ing young, could not be called off after once catching the 

 scent, and dog and deer were soon out of sight. 



While he was talking, Bearsgrease rose up and snuffed 



