VISITORS IN THE FOREST. 69 



to my venison ribs which I was roasting for my supper, 

 my dogs sitting around with expectant faces, Old 

 Mose, my ^slow-track' hound, suddenly turned his 

 head and set up a yell. His example was imme- 

 diately followed by his companions, and upon looking 

 in the direction to which their heads were turned, I 

 saw three horsemen riding towards my wigwam, and 

 upon their nearer approach I recognized one of them 

 to be a stock-owner whose 'ranche' was four or five 

 miles from me. His companions were two Mexicans 

 in his employ as herdsmen or vaqueros. 



Greeting my visitor, who dismounted, whilst the 

 Mexicans unsaddled and staked out his horse and their 

 own animals on the prairie grass, after they had 

 watered them at a slough a short distance from my 

 place, I, after the custom of the wilderness, handed 

 him a tumbler and gourd of whisky. After he had 

 imbibed the Moving cup' I pointed to the carcase 

 of the deer from which my roast had been cut, and 

 told him Mo help himself.' After the Mexicans had 

 attended to the horses, I gave them a brand from my 

 fire, and tellinor them to cut some venison for them- 

 selves, they were soon busy cooking and eating their 

 suppers. 



My visitor's errand was soon told. He had come 

 with his men to try and lasso a head or two of wild 

 cattle, should any of the herds be feeding far enough 

 from the timber to admit of a successful run. 



