264 WILD SPORTS IN THE FAR WEST. 



from the hills, in about an hour ^nd a half arrived at 

 the place where Collmar's house was to be built, and 

 where some of those who had arrived before me were 

 occupied in cutting the logs. 



The ground was already prepared and planks cut ; 

 other neighbors arrived from time to time with their 

 dogs and guns, and the clearing was filled with laughing, 

 talkative groups. 



The horses were hobbled near some reeds, with 

 plenty of maize shaken down in a dry place. In the 

 evening, we all assembled at Collmar's hut, or rather 

 shed, formed of boards fastened together, supported by 

 poles, and containing three roughly-hewn bedsteads, a 

 weaver's loom, and two spinning-wheels. It may have 

 been about fifty feet long and twenty wide, with the 

 floor as nature supplied it. Rifles and saddles lay 

 about ; three pairs of deer hams adorned one corner, 

 ^nd dried pumpkins hanging to poles, formed the sky to 

 this paradise. 



Immense blazing logs were heaped up in one black- 

 ened corner, and from time to time it was necessary to 

 throw a pail of water over the fire to prevent the 

 planks from burning; and then clouds of ashes 

 threatened us with the fate of Herculaneum and 

 Pompeii. 



All sorts of cooking utensils were crowded round the 

 fire — a turkey was stuck upon a stick to roast by the 

 side of an opossum, dangling on a string from the 

 roof. Notwithstanding my long abode amongst people 

 who were passionately fond of this article of food, I 

 could never bring myself to eat a thing with a rat's head 

 and tail, and hand-Uke claws. The prospect of a good 



