At St. Mary's 



game. Oh, no, it would not do to go with- 

 out plenty of ammunition. So we left no 

 vacant thimbles in our belts. 



When mounted and ready to start, our 

 guide pointed out the direction to be taken, 

 and assured us that we could not possibly 

 get lost ; for, after reaching the timber, we 

 would follow a " plain, blazed trail, clean 

 up. 



Then, as he wished us good luck, he 

 smiled. 



There was a drizzling rain. It was 

 early in the morning, and cold. The grass 

 was high in the ravines ; and by the time 

 we had reached the lower line of timber 

 we were wet through as high as the waist, 

 and not dry above. We now entered the 

 thick timber, and the upper half of the 

 body began to feel the dampening effect of 

 the numerous shower-baths shaken from 

 dripping boughs above. 



Ten minutes from the time of our en- 

 trance into the timber, we were lost ; and 

 from this time on, for the next hour and 

 a half, it was a game of hide-and-go-seek 

 between us and that " plain, blazed trail," 

 and Hardeman and I were always " It." 



But stumbling over the fallen trees, 

 interlaced and crossed in inextricable con- 

 fusion, winding in and out among the 



270 



