PASTIMES OF FOREST LIFE. 29 



or late in their return, and each man then saddled his 

 horse and returned to the forest for the purpose of 

 brino^ing his garje to the camp, from the spot where 

 it lay ; unless they happened to have killed turkeys, 

 which were packed in on the hunter's back. It once 

 fell to my luck to kill five turkeys (gobblers) in a 

 short space of time, although at the distance of nearly 

 two miles from the camp. As they averaged twenty- 

 five pounds each, it can easily be imagined that my 

 shoulders ached by the time I reached our camp fire. 



Of course, no regular breakfast hour could be ob- 

 served. Each man prepared his own food ; and then 

 made ready his game for market, skinning the deer, 

 or plucking the turkeys, as the case might be. Then 

 the day was passed as each man fancied, till evening 

 began to draw on, and it was time to prepare for the 

 evening hunt. Some played at cards, although money 

 was very seldom staked ; others cleaned and oiled 

 their arms ; dogs were fed ; or a rifle-match would be 

 held in some shady glade, the target usually employed 

 being a dollar, or a piece of paper cut that size, and 

 fixed to a tree. The usual distance was one hundred 

 yards ; and, although it may sound egotistical, most 

 excellent shooting was generally made. 



I frequently paid a visit to the editor of the local 

 paper when I attended market with the game ; and for 

 the present of a turkey, which cost me nothing but a 

 little powder and lead, would obtain a bundle of his 



