330 FORTY-FOUR FEARS OF 



my gim and dog, I set out by myself for the Negro Moun- 

 tain, to hunt. The day, though clear, was desperately 

 windy ; so much so, that I was afraid the trees would fall 

 on me. On I went, however, until I was within a mile of 

 the mountain, the bushes reeling and twisting through and 

 round each other with the wind, when suddenly the body 

 of a large buck became visible quite near to me. As he 

 had no knowledge of my presence, I turned my gun on 

 him as quick as possible, and fired ; after which he went 

 but a few yards, and fell dead. When he ran I saw two 

 more, as large as he was, also running ; and when he fell 

 the other two stopped for him to come up with them. 1 

 loaded again, and sent a second ball whizzing through one 

 of these two ; when the third buck stood looking at those 

 that were down and kicking their last, until I loaded the 

 third time, shot again, and killed this one also — all 

 within a few steps of each other. I dragged them toge- 

 ther, hung them all up, and turned my steps homeward ; 

 but the next day I sent out the boys and horses, and 

 brought them all home without damage. 



I then commenced gathering my corn, having Thomas 

 McMullen, Mary's youngest brother, helping me. We 

 had great quantities of all kinds of pumpkins among the 

 corn, and as Thomas and I were both fond of stewed 

 pumpkins, on Saturday we hauled them to the house, and 

 told Mary to stew as many of them as she thought we 

 could eat with cream, on Sunday morning. 



At breakfast next morning, the pumpkins and cream 

 being set out, young McMullen bantered me as to who 

 could eat the most. At it we went ; and we ate until 

 Mary, laughing, left the table. She was standing in the 

 door, when we heard a dog running in full cry ; and Mary 

 called to us that there was a bear coming, with a dog after 

 him. We both sprang to our rifles, and started out; when 

 VLe bear passed us at his best speed, with a dog dost 



