A SUMPTUOUS BREAKFAST. 131 



Before breakfast was quite ready, I went to the creek 

 which flowed at a few paces from our camp, to have a 

 good wash, and finding a hole with deep water as clear 

 as crystal, I threw off my clothes, and plunged under 

 the cool element. It was a delicious treat, and I did 

 not feel the cold till I got out ; but I was soon by the 

 fire, and by the time I had my clothes on, I felt such an 

 animating glow, and such strength, that I could almost 

 have torn an oak up by the roots. Old C. looked on 

 smiling, but thought it too cold to plunge in, and con- 

 tented himself with washing face, breast, hands, and 

 feet. Thus refreshed we sat down to breakfast ; turkey, 

 venison, coffee, and bread disappeared with terrific ra- 

 pidity ; even Bearsgrease appeared surprised, sitting 

 with his mouth wide open, though Conwell maintained 

 that he held it open more conveniently to catch the 

 morsels I threw to him, from time to time ; perhaps he 

 was right. 



After these trifles, half a turkey, and the greater part 

 of a haunch of venison had been safely disposed of to 

 the general satisfaction, we set off to look for the bear, 

 tokens of whose whereabout I had seen the day before. 

 On arriving at the place, the dogs showed signs of ex- 

 citement, and running down the steep they soon began 

 to give tongue. We followed as fast as we could, and 

 came to a large detached Tock, behind which a cave ran 

 into the mountain. Several marks showed that the bear 

 was at home ; the dogs barked furiously, and I laid aside 

 my rifle and pouch, and was about to enter the cave 

 with my drawn knife, when bruin began to suspect mis 

 chief. He was right opposite the entrance, but a slight 



