180 HUNTING SPORTS OF THE WEST. 



mountain, we observed a column of thin blue smoke by 

 the side of a stream, showing that some hunters were~en- 

 camped there. We went straight towards it, and found 

 it to be an Indian camp, and our former acquaintance, 

 young Erskine, among them. They were Cherokees 

 with three young Choctaws, these two tribes being on 

 good terms. Like ourselves, they were out bear-hunting, 

 but had had better luck. A quantity of bear meat was 

 hanging about the camp, and even the dogs could eat no 

 more. Casting ourselves down by the fire, one of the 

 squaws for there were several women in the camp im- 

 mediately cooked some bear for us, with which we duly 

 regaled ourselves. 



Night came on, and soon all were sunk in deep repose. 

 I was not inclined to sleep, and Bearsgrease, who had 

 tired himself with chasing a gang of turkeys, which 

 escaped at last by flying across a ravine, lay close to 

 me, with his head on my left arm. Soon he began to 

 dream, scrambling with his feet as if running, and bark- 

 ing in a low voice. Watching him brought to my mind 

 a story which was told me by an old bear-killer, to the 

 effect, that if a man lays his pocket-handkerchief over 

 the head of a dreaming dog, letting it stay till the dream 

 is out, then lays it under his own head, and falls asleep, 

 he will have the same dream that the dog had. A poc- 

 ket-handkerchief was a luxury I had dispensed with, but 

 I laid my Scotch cap on my dog's head, under which he 

 went on dreaming, and when he awoke I laid it under my 

 own head, and was soon asleep. It was perhaps owing to 

 the idea under which I* fell asleep, although in general I 

 can never dream what I wish, but, be that as it may, 1 



