Wild Sports in the Far West (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1859 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER IX. HUNTING ANECDOTES AND EXPERIENCES -- CHRISTMAS CONWELL AND HIS REMINISCENCES. A backwoods gun--Anecdote of a panther--My dog " Bearsgrease " -- Collmar's house -- Hunting a tame bear -- Hunting expedition -- Hailstorm -- Spirit-seller -- Route of Eastern Indians; their sufferings -- The "Mulberry" river -- Christmas-eve -- Conwell, the old settler-- Hunting with Conwell-- His age and robust frame -- A bear -- Fat turkeys -- Anecdotes of the Indians; their cunning -- Anecdote of the moccasins -- Method of hanging up deer -- Dangerous work with a buck -- Anecdote of a buffalo-hunt -- successful sport. Meantime it grew dusk, and Slowtrap returned with seven ducks, thre% of which had had their heads shot off. Meat was now plentiful. After S. had made himself comfortable -- that is to say, had taken off his hat, laid aside his rifle and pouch, pulled off his wet shoes and stockings, taken unto himself a slice of cold turkey, with its appropriate maize bread and boiled pumpkin, seated himself with his feet to the fire, cut off a piece of his chair to make a toothpick, and begun complacently to pick his teeth, a sure sign that he felt comfortable, all which operations took about three quarters of an hour -- he asked, "Well, what's the news ? " As the answer was not encouraging, another long pause ensued. When; it was quite dark, and a good fire was burning, his wife brought us some bread and milk, of which he partook largely, and then began to thaw, and speak of his exploits: he had fired eleven times, and his piece had missed fire twenty-seven times, a habit the old flint gun had; but he had nevertheless brought home seven ducks, and he had seen a fresh panther trail; the panther had probably seen him from a tree, and jumped down...