(only last November over five hundred were slaughtered in two days, near Denver, by white men), the murdering of hundreds of moose in Canada, and the knocking on the head with clubs of thousands of deer in New York and other States, by men on snow-shoes, during the deep snows of winter, are examples of the strange perversity and folly of the white settlers of every part of America. Civilisation and culture have nothing to do with the decrease of game, as game increases in the same ratio as cultivation increases, if woodland is left of sufficient extent to afford shelter to the animals, and they are unmolested during the breeding-season.

But some people kill for the mere love of slaughter; and the destruction of forests by fire, the roasting of eggs in spring, the reckless annihilation of animals at seasons even when they are utterly useless, and with the sure prospect of a total extermination, are all nothing compared to a little present selfish advantage. It has been urged that it is quite impossible to institute game laws in a new State. But there are very few States in America which are not old enough by this time to comprehend what are their own interests; and the rigid enforcement of the laws, and the example of educated men who are settled throughout the rural districts, would soon produce some effect on the minds of the masses as regards the wholesale destruction of game out of season.

CHAPTER XIV.

CAMPING OUT.

A frying-pan-Castle Lake-Famine-Fishing-Dinner-A song-Fresh quarters-Deer-hunting- Ambush Mountain-sides- Bears-Wild flowers-Home-Camp life-A duel-Woodpeckers-Maternal love.

OUR course for the greater part of the day's ride ran up and down hills, having here and there delightful clumps of mountain oaks, and, clustering beneath them, groups of splendid tiger-lilies. It was almost dark when we reached our camping-ground at Castle Lake, but we soon found a capital place for a halt by a clear running stream, with plenty of grass growing near for the horses. A fire was soon made, and by the time some grouse and quails which we had shot on the way were ready for cooking, it was discovered that Sisson had quite forgotten to provide dishes or plates of any sort. Luckily he had remembered the frying-pan, and that for the next few days was the only article we had to cook in and eat out of.

The weather was so lovely that, although we had tents, we never used them during our ten days' expedition, but slept by the fire and beneath the bright stars and tall solemn pine-trees.

By daybreak we were up and swimming in the lake, which at that hour was almost too cold for much enjoyment; but the early morn being the best time for deershooting, we were obliged to be up before the sun. Castle Lake is far more picturesque than Lake Tahoe, and though much smaller it has far greater variety. Steep wooded hills slope down to the water's edge, and bare barren bluffs rise up perpendicularly from the lake whilst banks of wild flowers clothe the low promontories that sometimes jut out far beyond the steep banks.

The first view of the lake was very beautiful. The rosy light from the east was striking here and there on the grey rocks and among the deep pine glades; and now and then across these bright streaks a long-necked doe with her fawn would pass and repass, whilst down at the water's edge a fine fat buck was taking a long draught, quite regardless of the intruders into his sanctum.

Our first morning's hunt was most unsuccessful. We saw plenty of tracks of deer, but not one of the deer that made them. We therefore returned, after about six hours' extremely hard climbing and walking, to our camp for breakfast. As Sisson had calculated on our obtaining plenty of venison, he had provided no meat; or, as he said, ' nothing but bacon, and that I've forgotten.'

In the daytime it was too hot to do anything but lie under the trees by the side of the lake and wish for the evening; and as that time approached I began to have serious doubts about the bill of fare for our dinner, for we had eaten the last grouse at breakfast. If I had only been a fisherman I might have quieted my fears in the mysterious absorption of fishing. But I never had patience enough to become an adept in the 'gentle craft,' whose soothing virtues, neither poisonous, like opium, nor transient, like music, ought to be cultivated early. Nevertheless the cravings of hunger determined me to turn my mind to fishing. Sisson had brought his fly-book and lines; so we cut ourselves rods, and whilst the others whipped the waters with the lordly fly I contented myself with the more humble grasshopper. The lake was said to be teeming with fish; but after an hour's dipping and splashing, without the minutest result, I took my gun and rushed up the nearest hill. At dark I returned, without having fired a single shot, only to find that the others had not caught a single fish-owing, they said, to a ripple, but owing, I thought, to there being nothing to catch. Oh! that dinner! no fragrant stew, no grateful soup-nothing but a few potatoes and beans, washed down by oceans of tea. But we were all so very hungry that we made a hearty dinner-agreeing with Sancho Panza that the viscera upholds the heart,

and the heart the stomach,' and that it was necessary to eat well to be ready for the hard work of the

morrow.

Sitting round the fire, when the banquet was over, somebody suggested a song as a suitable conclusion to the festive occasion; upon which one of the party, evidently inspired with the idea that he held in his hand a silver goblet of wine-the reality being a tin cup of weak tea-struck up The Glorious Vintage of Champagne!' The third line of the first verse,

'When man has nothing left to stake,'

was so appropriate to our situation that it was enthusiastically encored, and the refrain sent us merrily to bed. The next morning we determined to shift our quarters to the other side of the lake, as it was evident the deer had collected over there. As there was no regular trail we had considerable difficulty in finding our way. The pack-horses, too, would every now and then rush between two trees; and if they would not give way, as was generally the case, why, the packs did, and then there was half-an-hour's delay in tying them on again. On our way we shot a deer-so the provision enigma was solved for the present, much to our delight, but to the sorrow of the old pack-animal, who thereby had his load considerably increased. Having reached the other side of the lake, we crossed the mountain and