A hunter's life. 257 



there was snow fulling, I knew that the game wouKi be 

 hid in the laurels out of the storm ; but the young Balti- 

 niorean would not agree to wait until it blew over; so we 

 got ready, and started for the woods. 



We hunted all day without any luck, and in the evening 

 carae to the place where I had stowed my three bears. 

 My companion asked me if we could not make a lire and 

 lie down alongside of the bears. I told him I could take 

 him to his home that evening before dark ; but he said he 

 was tired, and would like to have some of the bear-meat 

 roasted for his supper. 



"Well," said I, "if you wish to stay here, I will make 

 the night as pleasant for you as I can ; but I am afraid 

 you will repent your choice before you see daylight 

 again." 



Notwithstanding, he decided to remain. 



After laying down our blankets and provision, I scraped 

 away the snow, collected enough wood to last during the 

 night, laid spruce limbs thick on the ground, spread one 

 blanket over them, and reserved the otlier to cover our- 

 selves. This matter arranged, we roasted some of the 

 young bear-meat, seasoned it well with salt and pepper, 

 and then ate it for our supper. 



The young man ate and joked, and was as good com- 

 pany as if he had been with me a lifetime. Whenever I 

 asked him if he suffered, he would answer with a laugh, 

 and say, " You need not trouble yourself about me ; 1 am 

 comfortable, and am looking for daylight to return, in 

 order that I may kill a buck." Then he would commence 

 joking again ; and I never had a finer fellow with me io 

 the woods than he was. 



At last the sun rose ; and, after making another meal 

 on roasted bear-meat, we started oflf to hunt deer ; for the 

 day was too cold for bears to come out of the laurel. 



We continued our hunt until the afternoon before we 

 22* R 



