90 WILD SPORTS OF THE WEST. 



beautiful animal we saw to-day proved that he had not 

 been alarmed in his lair, and led one almost to fancy 

 that in freakish mood he had abandoned his mountain 

 home to take a passing glance of the men and things 

 beneath him. 



At five o'clock we left the moors, and returned to our 

 cabin. The day throughout had been propitious ; 

 the breeze tempered the heat which yesterday oppressed 

 us, and our walk this morning had been only pleasant 

 exercise. We were neither exhausted by an ardent 

 sky, nor annoyed by the dazzling glare of constant 

 sunshine. The gnats, which lately had been intoler- 

 able, had vanished, and we were thus enabled to perform 

 our ablutions in the clear and sparkling river ; a feat 

 last night impracticable, from the number and virulence 

 of the insects. He who has bathed his limbs in the cool 

 and crystal waters of a mountain stream after a busy day 

 upon the heath can only estimate its luxury. Twenty 

 brace of grouse, three hares, and a half-score of gray 

 plovers, was the produce of our chasse. 



