140 WILD SPOKTS IX THE FAR WEST. 



June 3rd, made the following compact. "We agreed to 

 undertake the charge of S.'s cattle, to give them salt 

 hi the httle prairie from time to time, -where a tent ^vas 

 to be pitched for us, and Avhither we were frequently 

 to drive them, to accustom them to it. We were to 

 receive one-third of the produce, namely: every third 

 calf, as our property. S. bound himself to provide us 

 with pork, flour, coffee, sugar, and salt ; also, as soon as 

 he had time, to build a small house for us in place of the 

 tent. So far so good ; but the final clause was a jewel, 

 and the Irish schoolmaster who drew up the bond 

 was not a little vain of his performance. It stated : 

 " Neither of the undersigned parties is bound by this 

 contract, if any one of them should think that he could 

 do better elsewhere." The important document was 

 signed by both parties, S. making a cross, and then it 

 was carefully secured in S.'s strong box, the Irishman 

 putting the copy in his pocket, probably to 'show the 

 widow this specimen of his abilities. We shouldered 

 our rifles, and trotted off to reconnoitre our new 

 province. 



Uhl and I having separated, I shot a young deer, 

 but as it was too heavy to carry, I let it lie, and took 

 a direct line towards home, marking the trees with my 

 tomahawk as I went along. Suddenly a hen turkey 

 flew up ; before I could fire she was lost in the bushes, 

 but right under my feet lay nine beautiful eggs, in a 

 nest made of dry grass. I sat doAvn to await the 

 return of the hen, but as she did not choose to make 

 her appearance, I took up the eggs and carried tliem 

 home, intending to rear them ; then I went with a 

 horse to pick up my deer. 



