494 WILD SCENES AND WILD HUNTERS. 



before my eyes ; and therefore^ my equipment in this respect 

 was considerably simplified, though I must confess to you I 

 had an erer-present terror of the flies, which was quite an 

 offset to Piscator's transmigration, and cost me quite as much 

 preparation to guard against. 



I knew that the oil of pennyroyal was a specific against 

 their attacks ; but aside from my aversion to the use of so 

 disagreeable an article, I had forgotten it, so that the only 

 resource left me, had been to buy a green veil at Northfield, 

 and cutting a hole in the centre large enough for the crown 

 of my broad brimmed leghorn to pass through, I had the ends 

 taken up and a "puckering string" run around them, so that 

 they could be drawn close about my neck — thus securely 

 surrounding my face with a net which would defy even 

 " black gnats." Thus, with rifle (which is my favorite weapon) 

 in hand, and my personal dividend of ammunition in pocket, 

 I, too, considered myself equipped for the night hunt. 



Piscator was characteristically disregardful of "the flies," 

 and laughed quite as much at my precautions against them 

 as I had done at his against getting wet. He said, somewhat 

 pedantically, that "Patience was a more magnanimous divinity 

 than Prudence, seeing that the one was always irritable, 

 distrustful, and guarding herself against the wisdom of the 

 Higher Powers, while, the other was content in calm humility 

 to abide the evil the Gods might send along with the good !'" 



Whereto I replied — " The Gods do not send black gnais, 

 Piscator ; for I have sufficient proof in their color that they 

 are hatched in Acheron, and are loosed upon earth by the 

 Evil Deities to make good men swear against Jupiter — there- 

 fore, I guard against the crime rather than provoke it — while 

 you impiously shield your shoulders against the rain, which 

 is confessedly the chiefest benediction of the covering heavens." 



Piscator did not reply, but somewhat petulantly tossed his 

 India rubber overall upon his shoulders, and calling our 

 guide, tramped away, followed by me, towards the boat at 



