MISCELLANEOUS. 303 



which I have little knowledge. Presently, however, I re- 

 gained consciousness. I opened my eyes ; I still grasped my 

 knife firmly in my right hand. My rifle lay by my side. 

 I picked it up, opened the breech, and to my astonishment 

 found a loaded cartridge in it. I then felt for my left arm; 

 it was there and as sound as ever it was ! I then looked for 

 the bear, but he was nowhere to be seen. The truth then 

 gradually dawned upon me that, like many of the hair- 

 breadth escapes we read of, it was all a dream. 



After thoroughly arousing myself I entered the woods ; 

 the air was filled with the sound of flapping wings and the 

 clamor of hungry voices, proceeding from an innumerable 

 company of bloodthirsty mosquitoes. They sat upon the 

 rocks whetting their bills. At the signal of their leader 

 they charged me. At the first smell of my oil they stag- 

 gered a little, but soon recovered and came dow'n on me 

 with renewed force, business end first. In less time than it 

 takes to tell it, they had absorbed all my oil, and their 

 bills, which were as long and strong as those of the jack- 

 snipe, were honeycombing my flesh and drinking my life's 

 blood. From the slight regard they paid to the oil, I doubt 

 if even skunk juice would be at all offensive to their iron-clad 

 olfactories. Oh, that I could fill my blood with some deadly 

 poison, that every one that bites might swell up and burst ! 



I stood their abuse but a few minutes when I surrendered 

 unconditionally, pronounced the oily prescription a delusion 

 and a snare, and proceeded hurriedly to tie a piece of thick 

 muslin over my face, and to pull on a pair of thick buckskin 

 gloves. How fortunate that I had brought these with me. 

 These were too many for them. It was then their turn to fall 

 back ; but still they waited patiently about. They sat upon 

 my head, shoulders, arms, and on the trees around me, 

 singing "Hold the Fort/' and waiting for me to come out. 



