128 WILD SPORTS IN THE FAR WEST. 



leaving our heavy articles here for a time while we 

 went in search of game. But game seemed to have 

 vanished entirely ; we traversed the forest in all direc- 

 tions in vain : we only saw a few turkeys, and these 

 were too shy to let us come within shot. "We took up 

 stations to watch for them in the night, but without 

 seeing any thing, and returned disappointed and tired 

 to the house. 



Greater misfortune awaited me next day. Con- 

 tinuing our route, we came on the fresh trail of a bear, 

 and eagerly followed it, but the wood was so thick and 

 our packs so inconvenient that we were obliged to give 

 it up. On returning to the path, I was in the act of 

 springing over a pool, when my foot catching in one of 

 the numerous creepers that cover the ground, I was 

 thrown, and broke the stock of my rifle, besides cutting 

 my under lip and loosening some of my teeth : I secured 

 my ritle as well as I could with my pocket handker- 

 chief, and went on vexed and out of tune. 



About ten o'clock in the morning, the sun began to 

 dart his hot rays upon us rather more fiercely than we 

 thought agreeable ; we resolved to enter the first liouse 

 we came to, till the great heat of the day was pas.-:ed. 

 It happened to be inhabited by an elderly widow and 

 her sons ; while we were conversing together I observed 

 one of the boys fishing in a little flowing stream, pull- 

 ing up prizes as fast as he could. The lucky fisherman 

 excited my curiosity ; I went to see what he was catch- 

 ing, and could hardly believe my eyes when I found 

 that they were crawfish. So long was it since I had 

 tasted them, that they made my mouth water ; I soon 

 got my fish-hook to work, and in the course of half an 



