June 20, 1908.] 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
969 
for only five men and one boy. We can't eat logs, which were from time to time pushed up The meat of the agouti is light-colored and 
more.’ I said nothing; in fact, I was a little against it as they burned away, the pot resting tender, but not of striking flavor, resembling 
ashamed, for it would have been wanton kill- securely on the ground between them. Shortly veal somewhat In taste and appearance. We all 
ing just for the fun of it. Carefully the fire all was ready, a supply of plantains roasted in ate out of the iron pot, using small gourds for 
was put out, the animals were left in peace; we the coals served in place of bread, and with- scoops, and it did not take us very long to eat 
had enough. out great ceremony we fell to and ate. It was all that there was. After supper there were no 
I saw that we had killed three specimens of a fine supper, but then in the woods everything dishes to wash. We had only to sit around, rest 
the agouti family, but larger than any I had that is not poison is good, and it did not make and enjoy the cool evening with the deep mys- 
ever seen, and certainly they were enough for much difference what it was. We ate and en- terious woods, the darkness and the murmur- 
our party. joyed ourselves. ing sounds of the night all about us. 
Now we began to notice that it was hot; in 
fact, one cannot really understand, except after _ 
vigorous exercise, how hot it is in the tropics 
when the air is still and the ground dusty. My 
clothes were simply dripping with perspiration. 
The men, too, were showing the effects of our 
chase, but as their clothes consisted of simply 
a cotton shirt and light weight cotton panta- 
Hoons, it was easy for them to dry off in the By H. REAVES 
hot air; but my canvas hunting clothes were of 
heavier material and had become a moist burden 1 T was a vast pasture dotted with a few farms ‘'Just get on your horse and I’ll show you some 
which promised to retain its clinging tendencies. JL ancl surrounding a headquarters in the real fun.” 
However, camp was not far away, and well beautiful valley of Elm River, in Oklahoma. Mounting W. B., I joined Mr. Miers, and we 
contented we all started down stream making Once its fame was far from local, but now it is rode over the flats behind his two magnificent 
our way over the sun-baked water-worn bould- only a branch of a larger outfit. The ranch- greyhounds. Jack-rabbits were plentiful and soon 
ers. We had gone only a few steps when I house was weather-beaten and the huge log barn one was jumped. Away went Mike after the 
noticed that the three heavy animals had been was dilapidated. Glancing through a back door rabbit. He gained steadily until he lowered his 
placed on the back and shoulders of the boy. the first morning after my arrival, I saw both head and grabbed the rabbit by the hind legs, 
who followed after the others half staggering Bob White and topknots, or crested quail, drink- “This is good fun, all right,” Mr. Miers re- 
under the burden, while the men laughed, ing with the chickens, while far up the valley a marked after one of our hunts; “but we must 
chatted and praised the dogs. coyote trotted along leisurely. I had no dog. try coyotes. We can catch them here, and you 
This is one trait in the Spanish-American char- but I picked up my gun and went up the gentle can get the big loafers over at the Mill Iron in 
acter which I have never been quite able to incline back of the house. Presently I saw a bunch Texas. Old man Keith, too, will go with you to 
understand. Generous, daring and enthusiastic °f Bob Whites leaving the shorter grass for the catch bobcats here, and you can get bears and 
they are, but the burdens are given to the sage. It was difficult to flush them, but finally lions (cougars) when you go to the Block out- 
weakest. I did not like the arrangement and I did so and bagged several. Finally, in an fit in New Mexico.” 
took one of the animals to carry myself and arroyo I saw some of the crested birds. I at- The next morning I was mounted on a fast 
told Viejo and young Lopez each to take one; tempted to get closer to them, but, my! how horse and at the place appointed. The old 
which they immediately did and offered to carry they ran, darting between bunches of sage, gentleman apeared with his two greyhounds and 
mine as well. But I took my share of the bur- Over a ridge they went. Glancing cautiously two wolfhounds—fighting dogs, he called them, 
den, and presently a grateful little boy was over the hill I tried to see the sentinel, but As we passed around the hill we could see the 
walking at my side looking shyly up into my evidently he discovered me first and up he went, carcass lying in the sage-brush and just beyond 
face, at times smiling a little, but saying noth- I brought him down, but made a beautiful miss it a coyote busily engaged, apparently, in pulling 
ing. So we were all pleasant together, yet if when the main body took wing. off meat. The brute raised his head and made a 
I had bidden the men carry the. burden and had The crested quail were new to me and per- break to escape up the valley, 
taken no share of it myself ours would have haps therein lay their attraction. At any rate, Mike saw him first, then Jim, and they fairly 
been an angry party. It is, I have found, an I kept after them until my pockets were reason- darted over the level ground, gaining all the 
advantage, if anything different from the ordi- ably filled. I learned to hunt Bob Whites fairly time, until Mike made a grab for the beast’s 
nary is wanted in Spanish America, to take the well without a dog, but the crested birds lie to hind leg, but missed it. Then the coyote ap- 
lead, and in fact I never have asked anything one rarely and unsatisfactorily. Morning after parently started to turn on the dog, but changed 
of my men in which I was not ready to do my morning I hunted birds. Afterward 1 walked his mind and went forward again at full speed, 
part; and in spite of the dangers my expeditions along the river and watched the gray squirrels, when Jim made a successful grab and tripped 
have always come out well and I have only to It was delightful to see them skipping along him. Up he jumped, only to be tripped by 
show what is wanted, take part in the work, over the limbs of the great oaks and darting Mike. And thus he was delayed until the fight- 
and nothing is too hard or too dangerous; the up their great bodies. ing dogs ran up and ended his earthly journeying, 
men of the woods are at one’s side every time. “I am getting tired of quail,” my host re- Far up the valley we jumped two other 
Our way down the creek was quickly trav- marked after I had been at the ranch a week, coyotes from the sage-brush. One was killed 
ersed. Soon we were in camp again where the “Suppose you kill some dog-hole rabbits. Their by Mike and the two fighting dogs; the other 
boy sat down prepared to take it easy, for he meat is just as white,’ and I like them better.” one was checked by Jim until Mr. Miers urged 
had been told not to work and proposed to make “Dog-hole rabbits?” I exclaimed. the other dogs forward and finally caught him 
the best of it. One of the Lppez boys spoke “Yes, the cottontails that live in prairie-dog also. 
angrily to him, but he only made a jesture to- towns. They are different from other cotton- Several other days we hunted coyotes in much 
ward me with a satisfied look saying, “The tails.” the same way, and altogether secured seven of 
Senor Doctor told me.” But I had no such I did not question the old gentleman further, the destructive brutes. The former scout and 
ideas, and soon he was at work doing his share but did as he bade me and killed cottontails that his dogs knew how to catch the lesser wolves, 
preparing supper. lived in dog towns. And their meat really did On the morning following our last coyote hunt. 
Evening had come on and it was cooler now. seem whiter and tenderer than that of any other a very tall old man with long, unkept beard, and 
The animals were cooking on a fire made by cottontails I had ever eaten. Why I do not dressed in shabby corduroys, approached, 
placing three logs end to end, and it was burn- know, unless it is because they remain under the “Good morning, Mr. Keith,” my host greeted 
ing vigorously, casting a cheery light over the ground a good deal. him. 
gathering gloom, out of which a coolness seemed One of General Custer’s old Indian scouts, “Mornin’, mornin’l” he replied. “I heard yore 
to come creeping and clinging about us. Pres- Mr. Miers. came by to see me one day. “You visiter here wanted ter ketch some bobcats. My 
ently a great iron pot filled with vegetables and are having no sport at all,” he contended, when ole woman is about all right now an’ I’ll show 
agouti meat was placed in the center of the I told him how I had been spending my time, ’im.” 
Sport irv Rarvchland 
