202 THE PUMA A>'D CAT FAMILY. 



A weary ride of thirty miles brouglit our little party 

 to the Trespalacios Creek. The ride was tiresome — nut 

 from the distance, but from the snail's-pace at which we 

 were compelled to travel, as we had an ox-waggon w^th 

 us filled with casks and sacks of salt ; for we intended 

 to combine business with pleasure, and save the best 

 of the meat w^e hoped to kill. 



The four yoke of sturdy oxen hauled the huge Osna- 

 burgh covered waggon at less than three miles an hour 

 over the prairie, whilst three other hunters and myself 

 slowly piloted the three negroes, w^ho took it turn 

 about to drive the team ; the two off duty — negro 

 fashion — passing their time asleep in the bed of the 

 waggon, together with half the pack of hounds, who 

 also rode in their turns. 



The negroes were brought to attend to the hoppled 

 oxen when we should arrive at the camping-ground, as 

 well as to the skinning of the animals we might kill, and 

 the salting of the meat, which we intended to preserve. 



Although we had started at about three o'clock in 

 the morning, it was nearly sundown by the time we 

 reached the spot determined upon for our camping- 

 ground. Most of our arrangements had thus to be 

 made by the light of an immense fire ; and though 

 we worked hard and fast, it was late before our suppers 

 were ended, and our hounds fed ; so that after one pipe, 

 and a tin pannikin of grog, we were all glad to stretch 

 ourselves upon our blankets, and get to sleep. 



