108 AMERICAN GAME BIRD SHOOTING. 
pity that he had not adopted novel writing as a profes- 
sion, as he was evidently a better novelist than a hotel- 
keeper. This sally evoked so much laughter that we 
were surprised at it, until we subsequently heard that the 
man was famous for his penuriousness, and the dirty 
character of his house. We wandered about the town 
until seven o’clock, then returned to the hotel and 
asked for our guide, and were told that he could not 
come until the next morning. Not caring to lose 
any more time, we hitched up our horses, as we in- 
tended to reach a camping ground in the forest by ten 
o’clock. The Boniface urged us to remain all night, 
and finding that we would not, he charged us a nice 
round sum for the honor of knowing him. The bill 
was paid without. protest, but one of the party took the 
opportunity of telling him what he thought of his char- 
acter; but he might as well have bayed the moon as 
talk to him, so far as wounding his feelings was con- 
cerned, for he had none except those which referred to 
money. We drove away from the hamlet at a rapid trot, 
and were soon speeding towards a farm-house about five 
or six miles distant, where we were told we might find a 
guide. We missed the road, however, and by ten o’clock 
found ourselves following a regular cow-path through the 
forest. ‘ 
Knowing that we had lost our way, we halted, took 
out our blankets, picketed the horses, and having lit a 
fire, were about sitting down when we were startled by 
the barking of some curs. Thinking there might be a 
pioneer’s shanty near us, we seized our guns, and started 
in the direction of the barking, but the dogs receded as 
fast as we advanced, until we suddenly found ourselves 
in a small Indian encampment, which seemed to swarm 
with snarling curs, and terrified babies. Some of the 
braves advanced to meet us, and greeted us with a cheery 
** Ola-how-ya,” a salutation which we cordially returned. 
