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 ever-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 gnats, 
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 itpiously 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 
Iudia rubber overall upon his shoulders, and calling our 
guide, tramped away, followed by me, towards the boat at 
