B48 WILD SCENES AND WILD HUNTERS. 
square from which they started—that is, if, contrary to all 
probabilities, they ever should reach it again. If possessed 
of a vivid imagination, after grasping all that this view pre- 
sents, you may form some faint conception of what these 
remarkably moderate young gentlemen were contented to 
consider sport !” 
For myself, being, as has been perceived by this time, just in 
the mood for so reasonable and matter-of-fact an undertaking, 
I was delighted at having arrived in time to join the party, 
and nothing the less delighted at the extravagant gusto with 
which the fellows seemed to relish the idea of this highly 
seasoned joke. 
Captain Hays had thrown out a hint, as the climactric 
attraction to any one who might need further incentive or 
dream of hesitating, that if we had not seen too many 
Indians by the time we reached the foot of the San Saba 
ridge, we would recreate there a day or so in killing bears, 
which animals were reported to be wonderfully abundant, 
and collecting wild honey, to be drunk with the oil! 
This last mellifluous argument proved too much for a rotund 
and doughty little Doctor—like myself, lately from the States 
-—-who had been slightly affected by some natural qualms 
of prudence; but now, “in fine phrensie rolling,” his inner 
visuals were all preoccupied and inspired by the scenes round 
the camp-fire—himself, with sleeves rolled up—the sharp knife 
in his dumpy red hand—the fat streaks falling off beneath 
his strokes upon the napkin of leaves—the steam, “like rich 
distilled perfumes,” that rose as they hissed upon the spit 
before the cheery fire. Then the brown honey in stately 
‘iquid flow from the tin cups, strewed over the tenderly crisped 
flesh! Oh! it was too delicious! What cared he for Coman- 
ches after that rapt vision! Yes, go he would, though they 
swarmed by thousands to turn him from his bliss! 
The best of the joke, though, was, that after this we could 
not get the Doctor anyhow to realize that there would be 
