A hunter's 1>IFE. l07 



I found her quietly waiting for nic, and she said she was 

 not the least afraid. After listening to the description of 

 my hunt, she said that if I had staid at the house I could 

 have killed a deer close by ; for she saw one passing along 

 while she was milking her cows. 



Next morning I went after my bear, and reached the 

 place before Hugh and Mr. Hoy arrived. We soon had 

 him quartered ; Mr. Hoy taking three parts, and Hugh 

 and I the rest ; which, with the skin, made us a good load 

 home. Mr. Hoy brought a negro man with him, who car- 

 ried the head of the bear home, and he told me after- 

 wards that it weighed eighteen pounds. 



As Mary wished to see a little more of the beauty of 

 the glades, we all three walked out after the grass was 

 dry, and traveled a distance of between one and two 

 miles. The scene was delightful to view — our cattle and 

 horses pasturing in grass reaching to their knees, the birds 

 of different kinds, singing as if each was striving to outdo 

 the other, and numerous turkeys roaming about, followed 

 by large flocks of young ones. I told Mary that as soon 

 as they were large enough to eat she should have as many 

 of them as she desired to use. And if woman's eyes were 

 ever pleased by beholding beautiful flowers, then was Mary 

 gratified ; for she gathered many bunches, and still saw 

 new ones which she coveted ; but we could carry no more. 

 The whole face of the country was like a beautiful sheet 

 of wall-paper, variegated with all shades of color. 



We took this walk at a time of the day when all the 

 animals were hidden, and we saw none of any kind ; but 

 in every soft piece of ground were to be seen foot-prints 

 of all kinds, from those of the bear down to those of the 

 rabbit. After Mary was satisfied with looking at and 

 pulling the flowers, we returned home, highly delighted 

 with our ra«b «, and having a fine appetite for our dinner 



