126 HUNTING SPORTS OF THE WEST. 



when he informed me that he had concluded his business 

 quicker than he had expected, and now meant to return 

 home. This was disagreeable to me for two reasons 

 first, because he was a very pleasant companion ; and, 

 secondly, because he was so well acquainted with the 

 mountains. However, there was no persuading him to 

 remain, and he fixed on the following morning for his 

 departure. 



In the afternoon, as the sun was bright and warm, 

 we formed a merry party in front of the house ; but S., 

 who never could bear lying or sitting on the cold ground, 

 sat himself on the fence, which was about five feet high, 

 and told us some of his humorous stories with his usual 

 gravity. Meantime, several cows had assembled on the 

 other side of the fence. It has already been said that 

 S. wore a shabby old coat, whereof the tails hung low 

 outside the fence. In the morning he had been walking 

 about the hills, and had been very hot ; and his pocket- 

 handkerchief, moist with perspiration, was in one of his 

 pockets. It is well known that cows are fond of salt 

 and salinp substances, and they had probably divined 

 that something of the sort was in one of those pockets. 

 One, rather bolder than the rest, had quietly approached, 

 taken the flap in her mouth, and was contentedly chew- 

 ing it. I had observed the whole proceeding with great 

 amusement ; but fearing that his coat was in danger of 

 being reduced to a state of pulp, I called out to him to 

 look behind. He looked round, beheld the cow chew* 

 ing his coat-tails with the greatest placidity, and raised 

 one of his long arms to drive her away. The cow, 

 frightened at the long arm, made a retreat ; but unluck- 



