152 HUNTING SPORTS OF THE WEST. 



I loaded it with great lumps of the frozen delicacy. 

 This done, I collected wood and made a fire, expecting 

 we should pass the night here ; but just then I heard the 

 report of Conwell's gun quite near, followed by his hail : 

 I answered, and was soon by his side. He had killed a 

 large fat doe, which we hung up by the hind legs, made 

 a cut above the haunch, and drew off the skin without 

 another touch of the knife, except at the knees, hocks, 

 and head ; stopping the holes, we turned it with the hair 

 outwards, and so made a bag to carry the honey. When 

 it was all in, I mounted, Conwell handed it to me, and 

 away we went homewards, leaving the greater part of the 

 last deer behind. 



BEAR AND PANTHER HUNTING, 



WE had no trifle to carry, and were very glad to reach 

 home ; but our feet were hardly out of the stirrups when 

 we heard that some Indians had looked in. They had 

 discovered a cave which certainly contained a bear, but 

 the Cherokees, who had first found it, had not ventured 

 to penetrate far, as it was deep and narrow. This was 

 grist to our mill. The skins and meat were stowed away, 

 the rifles discharged and cleaned, horses fed, and all pre- 

 pared for a regular hunt. We passed the evening in 

 telling stories about bears ; among others Conwell re- 

 lated the following anecdote respecting their winter sleep : 

 " Tn this southern climate, the bear generally lays up 



