134 HUNTING PARTY. 



left in the enclosures, where the horses have 

 been treading out the corn. These we had 

 plucked and roasted forthwith. After sup- 

 per, those who had hammocks hung them 

 up, others spread roanas and saddle-cloths on 

 the hide-stretchers, or on the floor. Colonel 

 Lyster and myself deemed ourselves very 

 fortunate in securing the only bed in the 

 house, on which we soon fell asleep, wrapped 

 up in our roquillas, to exclude the cold night 

 air. About eleven o'clock we were awaken- 

 ed by the arrival of the mules, and the ma- 

 jority of us arose to aid in adjusting ham- 

 mocks for those who had previously been 

 lying on the floor ; we then enjoyed a glass 

 of grog each, which even those lazy ones 

 who would not rise, were willing to partake 

 of in their hammocks. We were all soon 

 soundly asleep, but anxiety for day-break 

 frequently awakened me, and I struck my 

 repeater at each time, to the very great an- 

 noyance of my worthy friend and bedfellow 



