256 WILD SPORTS IN THE FAR WEST. 



but I stripped off the panther's, and set out on my 

 return to my camp, deciding to go back to old Slow- 

 trap's, and to commence my march to the Ozark moun- 

 tains as soon as possible. 



On arriving at the camp I tied up the skin with 

 strips of bark, and although I took very little of the 

 venison with me, I had a heavy load. I reached 

 Curly's in the evening. As it was nearly dark, I had 

 no fancy for crossing the river at night, and creeping 

 for half an hour through a cane-brake, with the chance 

 of getting my eyes poked out; so I remained with 

 Curly. The house was small, but it contained two 

 large bedsteads, one table, three chairs, two plates, and 

 one cup ; a hole in the wall did duty for the absent 

 window. 



We passed a very pleasant evening. Curly sang 

 w^ell, and gave us a number of Irish comic songs, till, 

 tired with laughing and the severe exertions of the 

 day, I rolled myself in my blanket, and laid myself by 

 the fire. I was up at daybreak, and the river being 

 low, waded through, hastened to Slowtrap's, and spread 

 out my skin. Slowtrap' was out shooting wild fowl, 

 which had collected in such numbers on a little river 

 running into the Fourche le Fave, that I never saw 

 any thing like it ; they positively covered the water, and 

 a good double-barrelled gun might have done immense 

 havoc, particularly as the steep banks favored the 

 approach to within thirty yards of the ducks. 



Supposing the old fellow not to be far off, I took my 

 rifle, and lounged down to the brink of the river ; not 

 with any intention of shooting, as my rifle had too large 

 a bore ; but I came upon a string of ducks, not more 



