16 HINTS ON FOREST AND PRAIRIE LIFE. 



forces his way swiftly through the canes. The stealthy 

 panther glides along with equal rapidity and less noise. 

 Terrified herds of wild cattle dash through the jungle 

 by sheer force of numbers and weight, snapping the 

 thick canes as though they were bullrushes. The 

 frightened deer rush swiftly through the more open 

 parts of the wood towards the prairie ; while high 

 over head the turkey, snipe, and other birds, fly in 

 straight lines towards a secure resting place. 



The hunter also must hasten away, either to the 

 prairie or to a stream of water broad enough to arrest 

 the progress of the flames; and he may have even 

 to fire the prairie in order to insure his safety. 



The life which I passed in Texas as a hunter, I may 

 well call happy. The planters and settlers were (and I 

 believe the war has not altered them) the kindest and 

 most hospitable people it has ever been my lot to meet. 

 It was sometimes, indeed, a matter of difficulty to get 

 away from the jovial hosts who cared little what hap- 

 pened provided the stranger would make one in a day's 

 deer-drive, in a fishiug party, or even a week's camp- 

 hunt. Nothing less than a solemn promise of a speedy 

 return could procure release from their hospitable 

 houses. 



For my own part, like many others, I preferred a 

 wild, roving, independent life in the wilderness to the 

 luxuries of a settled home. Parties were made up of 

 men, inured to the fatigues and dangers of forest-life. 



