MILITARY AD VENTURES. 227 



to work to skin him, an operation which 

 they completed in an incredibly short 

 space of time ; the flesh was then cut into 

 twenty pound pieces which were fastened 

 on the top of the carriers' loads, and the 

 men were all delighted at the prospect of 

 such a good meal, and I believe they 

 prefer bears' meat to either beef or 

 mutton. We had some of the flesh 

 dressed for our own dinner in the evening. 

 I can hardly describe its flavour, as it 

 savoured both of pork and of beef, but we 

 found it deliciously tender. We were 

 exceedingly tired and done up, but felt 

 rather proud of our first days' work ; and, 

 on counting our game, we found we had 

 got twenty brace of partridge, three hares, 

 five deer and the renowned bear. 



We did not waste much time over our 

 port wine that evening ; indeed Smith was 



