METAPHYSICS OF BEAR HUNTING. 349 



Indians to fight. He would not and could not conceive tho 

 possibility of the tawny rascals interposing "betwixt the 

 wind" and that odorous revelation. " Faugh ! give me an 

 ounce of civet !" good apothecary, he would ejaculate, with 

 the parenthetic addition, " or bear-steak and honey would do 

 as well," whenever the thing was mentioned by us. Remon- 

 strate as we might, he would see and know of nothing else 

 ahead but these rare delicacies ; nor could he be induced to 

 make provision in his equipments for any thing other than 

 securing them. He had gotten hold of something he called 

 a bear spear, which a wag had quizzed him into believing 

 to be an infallible weapon in hunting that animal ; then, in 

 addition, slinging a small axe to his saddle-bow, to be used 

 in cutting out the honey, along with a huge pair of holster- 

 pistols, he declared himself, with great vivacity, " Ready, 

 boys !" 



We tried to induce him to throw away his spear and take 

 a gun. " Never ! What, would you have me unsteady my 

 nerves by lugging a great gun ? How shall I then be able 

 to dissect with that nicety of skill so indispensable to attain- 

 ing the true flavor of a bear-steak ? You are surely demented 

 gentlemen !" and spurring his bob-tailed and vicious-looking 

 pony into a canter, he led the way out of the square. We 

 were all soon clattering after him. 



It requires precious little time, after an expedition has been 

 determined upon, for a troop like this to get ready for it ; with 

 his rifle, his pistols, his bowie knife, his tin cup, " water 

 gourd," buffalo robe, lariat, Mexican bridle, saddle and spurs, 

 the jolly Ranger feels himself prepared to go wherever his 

 horse can carry him, and to meet " all imminence the gods 

 address their dangers in !" He never troubles himself to-day 

 about what he shall eat or what he shall wear to-morrow ; 

 for, so long as his eye is true, and his aim steady, his good 

 rifle will supply him with meat for food, and skins for clothes ; 

 and what more could any reasonable mortal ask ? 



