38 EAMJBLES AFTER SPORT. 



an acre or two of cleared land, in which he grew a few 

 potatoes and other vegetables. A hog, a fowl or two, 

 with an occasional turkey, prowled promiscuously about. 

 The cattle which these ranch-men possess, few and 

 many, roam about on the hills, and are distinguished by 

 the different brands of the owners ; a heavy penalty 

 being inflicted on those caught effacing them or appro- 

 priating cattle of other brands. His hut was pretty 

 comfortable, so we stowed away our provisions and flour, 

 spread our blankets, and took a look round at things in 

 general. The view was certainly enchanting. The hut 

 lay in a small valley beside a stream perennial. On 

 either side were the grand old hills rising tier above tier, 

 keeping silent watch, undefiled by man. No sound 

 broke the silence, save the lowing of the kine, or the 

 swoop of the turkey buzzard as he swept down on 

 his prey, or, more cheerful sound to me, the piping of 

 the quail. I felt that, with my rifle, gun, and rod, I 

 could for ever live in this lovely spot^ About a quarter 

 of a mile from the house I flushed several bevies of quail, 

 so, calling off the dogs, after I had seen what I might 

 expect, I returned to my friends, whom I found enjoying 

 their pipes, and discussing whiskey ^' straight ;" although 

 the brook ran close by, I did not see that either of them 

 troubled it much. After supper we made our arrange- 

 ments j every four days we, or rather my companion was 

 to send in the game to San Francisco ; and as we could 

 reach, on our horses, some very fair deer hunting some 

 few miles off, we made up our minds to a good month. 

 My companion was eternally calculating how many dollars 

 he was going to make during the fall; the idea of my 

 shooting for months together simply for the sake of the 

 sport and the lovely scenery, was a perfect mystery to 



