arently. Coming to a _bayou_, I reconnoitered some time. All was
quiet, save the pattering of the rain in the grass, and on the
scattering lofty trees. I stood still and absorbed, watching the dying
fire, for an hour or two. I was within half a mile of it; the intense
darkness that usually precedes day had passed, and a murky, rainy
morning was dawning. Cheerless, fatigued, and hungry beyond all mental
supervision or fear, I marched point blank up to the fire, and there
lay--not a tribe of Mexicans or Camanches, but my comrade Mat, fast
asleep, under the lee of a huge dead and fallen cotton-wood, alongside
of the fire, warm, dry, and comfortable as a bug in a rug!

I gave one shout, that would have riz the scalp lock of any red skin
within ten miles, and Mat started upon his feet and snatched his
"Yeager" from under the log quicker than death.

"Ho-o-o-ld yer hoss, stranger," I yelled, "I'm only going to eat ye!"

Mat and I fraternized, quick and strong. A piece of his fawn was jerked
and roasted in a giffy. After gormandizing about five pounds, and
getting a few whiffs at Mat's old stone pipe, I took his nest under the
log, and slept a few hours sound as a pig of lead.

Waked up, prime--stowed away a few more pounds of the fawn, and then we
started for camp. Living and faring in this manner, for from three to
twelve months, may give you some idea of the training the heroes of San
Jacinto had.

Roosting Out.

In 1837, after the capture of Santa Anna, by General Samuel Houston and
his little Spartan band, which event settled the war, and something like
tranquillity being restored to Texas, several of us adventurers formed a
small hunting party, and took to the woods, in a circuitous tour up and
across the Sabine, and so into the United States, homeward bound.

There were seven men, two black boys, belonging to Dr. Clenen, one of
our "voyageurs," and eleven horses and mules, in the party; and with a
tolerable fair camp equipage, plenty of ammunition, one or two "old
campaigners" and three monstrous clever dogs, it was naturally supposed
we should have a pleasant time. The first five days were cold, being
early Spring, wet, and not _very_ interesting; but as all of the party
had seen some service, and not expecting the comforts and delicacies of
civilization, they were all the better prepared to take things as they
came, and by the smooth handle. The idea was to travel slow, and reach
Jonesboro' or Red River