METAPHYSICS OF BEAR HUNTING. 849 
{Indians to fight. He would not and could not conceive the 
possibility of the tawny rascals interposing “betwixt the 
wind” and that odorous revelation. © “Faugh! give me an 
ounce of civet!’ good apothecary, he would ejaculate, with 
the parenthetic addition, “or bear-steak and honey would do 
as well,” whenever the thing was mentioned by us. Remon- 
strate as we might, he would see and know of nothing else 
ahead but these rare delicacies; nor could he be induced to 
make provision in his equipments for any thing other than 
securing them. He had gotten hold of something he called 
a bear spear, which a wag had quizzed him into believing 
to be an infallible weapon in hunting that animal; then, in 
addition, slinging a small axe to his saddle-bow, to be used 
in cutting out the honey, along with a huge pair of holster- 
pistols, he declared himself, with great vivacity, ‘Ready, 
boys !” 
We tried to induce him to throw away his spear and take 
a gun. “Never! What, would you have me unsteady my 
nerves by lugging a great gun? How shall I then be able 
to dissect with that nicety of skill so indispensable to attain- 
ing the true flavor of a bear-steak ? You are surely demented 
gentlemen!’ and spurring his bob-tailed and vicious-looking 
pony into a canter, he led the way out of the square. We 
were all soon clattering after him. 
It requires precious little time, after an expedition has been 
determined upon, for a troop like this to get ready for it; with 
his rifle, his pistols, his bowie knife, his tin cup, “ water 
gourd,” buffalo robe, lariat, Mexican bridle, saddle and spurs, 
the jolly Ranger feels himself prepared to go wherever his 
horse can carry him, and to meet “all imminence the gods 
address their dangers in!’ He never troubles himself to-day 
about what he shall eat or what he shall wear to-morrow; 
for, so long as his eye is true, and his aim steady, his good 
rifle will supply him with meat for food, and skins for clothes: 
and what more could any reasonable mortal ask ? 
