334 WILD SPORTS IN THE FAR WEST. 



Dispirited,- we wandered the whole day through the 

 wet forest, without seeing a turkej. The meat we had 

 brought with us was getting low, as we had not 

 been very saving of it, and had given the larger 

 share to the dogs ; after breakfast there was one 

 small piece left for each to share with his dog at 

 night; still hoping, we walked on cautiously and at- 

 tentively till late at night, without seeing even so much 

 as a vulture. 



On the morning of the 29th of January, we sat by 

 the fire with empty stomachs, and stared sorrowfully 

 at the crackling flames. At length Conwell burst out 

 with a loud laugh, and asked whether we were forced 

 to remain in this deserted spot, and why we should not 

 go home. But I would not give it up yet; to go 

 home with nothing but a panther's skin full of holes 

 was too bad, and I begged for one more day ; at any 

 rate, if we found nothing before twelve o'clock, we 

 could then meet at the camp and return home. In 

 silence, and on the watch for the merest trifles, I 

 wandered with Bearsgrease through all the places 

 where hitherto I had almost always found game, 

 without meeting a sign; and my hunger was quite 

 painful. How I thought of shooting parties at home, 

 where one was sure of finding some sort of a house 

 every half hour ; here, was only thick forest, where 

 one wet dripping tree looked exactly like another. 

 And yet it was not without its charms. For instance, 

 every now and then you were entangled by the thorns 

 of the black locust, or if your slippery moccasins caused 

 you to fall, you might be sure of findmg some of them 

 conveniently placed to receive you. 



