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neckerchiefs； and leather leggings； or else Mexicans； more gaudily
dressed； and wearing peculiarly stiff； very broad…brimmed hats with
conical tops。
Toward the end of our ride we got where the ground was more fertile；
and there had recently been a sprinkling of rain。 Here we came across
wonderful flower prairies。 In one spot I kept catching glimpses
through the mesquite trees of lilac stretches which I had first
thought must be ponds of water。 On coming nearer they proved to be
acres on acres thickly covered with beautiful lilac…colored flowers。
Farther on we came to where broad bands of red flowers covered the
ground for many furlongs； then their places were taken by yellow
blossoms； elsewhere by white。 Generally each band or patch of ground
was covered densely by flowers of the same color； making a great vivid
streak across the landscape； but in places they were mixed together；
red； yellow； and purple； interspersed in patches and curving bands；
carpeting the prairie in a strange； bright pattern。
Finally； toward evening we reached the Nueces。 Where we struck it
first the bed was dry； except in occasional deep； malarial…looking
pools； but a short distance below there began to be a running current。
Great blue herons were stalking beside these pools； and from one we
flushed a white ibis。 In the woods were reddish cardinal birds； much
less brilliant in plumage than the true cardinals and the scarlet
tanagers； and yellow…headed titmice which had already built large
domed nests。
In the valley of the Nueces itself； the brush grew thick。 There were
great groves of pecan trees； and ever…green live…oaks stood in many
places； long； wind…shaken tufts of gray moss hanging from their limbs。
Many of the trees in the wet spots were of giant size； and the whole
landscape was semi…tropical in character。 High on a bluff shoulder
overlooking the course of the river was perched the ranch house；
toward which we were bending our steps； and here we were received with
the hearty hospitality characteristic of the ranch country everywhere。
The son of the ranchman； a tall； well…built young fellow； told me at
once that there were peccaries in the neighborhood； and that he had
himself shot one but two or three days before； and volunteered to lend
us horses and pilot us to the game on the morrow； with the help of his
two dogs。 The last were big black curs with； as we were assured；
〃considerable hound〃 in them。 One was at the time staying at the ranch
house； the other was four or five miles off with a Mexican goat…
herder； and it was arranged that early in the morning we should ride
down to the latter place； taking the first dog with us and procuring
his companion when we reached the goat…herder's house。
We started after breakfast； riding powerful cow…ponies； well trained
to gallop at full speed through the dense chaparral。 The big black
hound slouched at our heels。 We rode down the banks of the Nueces；
crossing and recrossing the stream。 Here and there were long； deep
pools in the bed of the river； where rushes and lilies grew and huge
mailed garfish swam slowly just beneath the surface of the water。 Once
my two companions stopped to pull a mired cow out of a slough； hauling
with ropes from their saddle horns。 In places there were half…dry
pools； out of the regular current of the river； the water green and
fetid。 The trees were very tall and large。 The streamers of pale gray
moss hung thickly from the branches of the live…oaks； and when many
trees thus draped stood close together they bore a strangely mournful
and desolate look。
We finally found the queer little hut of the Mexican goat…herder in
the midst of a grove of giant pecans。 On the walls were nailed the
skins of different beasts； raccoons； wild…cats； and the tree…civet；
with its ringed tail。 The Mexican's brown wife and children were in
the hut； but the man himself and the goats were off in the forest； and
it took us three or four hours' search before we found him。 Then it
was nearly noon； and we lunched in his hut； a square building of split
logs； with bare earth floor； and roof of clap…boards and bark。 Our
lunch consisted of goat's meat and /pan de mais/。 The Mexican； a
broad…chested man with a stolid Indian face； was evidently quite a
sportsman； and had two or three half…starved hounds； besides the
funny； hairless little house dogs； of which Mexicans seem so fond。
Having borrowed the javalina hound of which we were in search； we rode
off in quest of our game； the two dogs trotting gayly ahead。 The one
which had been living at the ranch had evidently fared well； and was
very fat； the other was little else but skin and bone； but as alert
and knowing as any New York street…boy； with the same air of
disreputable capacity。 It was this hound which always did most in
finding the javalinas and bringing them to bay； his companion's chief
use being to make a noise and lend the moral support of his presence。
We rode away from the river on the dry uplands； where the timber；
though thick； was small； consisting almost exclusively of the thorny
mesquites。 Mixed among them were prickly pears； standing as high as
our heads on horseback； and Spanish bayonets； looking in the distance
like small palms； and there were many other kinds of cactus； all with
poisonous thorns。 Two or three times the dogs got on an old trail and
rushed off giving tongue； whereat we galloped madly after them；
ducking and dodging through and among the clusters of spine…bearing
tress and cactus； not without getting a considerable number of thorns
in our hands and legs。 It was very dry and hot。 Where the javalinas
live in droves in the river bottoms they often drink at the pools； but
when some distance from water they seem to live quite comfortably on
the prickly pear； slaking their thirst by eating its hard； juicy
fibre。
At last； after several false alarms； and gallops which led to nothing；
when it lacked but an hour of sundown we struck a band of five of the
little wild hogs。 They were running off through the mesquites with a
peculiar hopping or bounding motion； and we all； dogs and men； tore
after them instantly。
Peccaries are very fast for a few hundred yards； but speedily tire；
lose their wind； and come to bay。 Almost immediately one of these； a
sow； as it turned out； wheeled and charged at Moore as he passed；
Moore never seeing her but keeping on after another。 The sow then
stopped and stood still； chattering her teeth savagely； and I jumped
off my horse and dropped her dead with a shot in the spine； over the
shoulders。 Moore meanwhile had dashed off after his pig in one
direction； and killed the little beast with a shot from the saddle
when it had come to bay； turning and going straight at him。 Two of the
peccaries got off； the remaining one； a rather large boar； was
followed by the two dogs； and as soon as I had killed the sow I leaped
again on my horse and made after them； guided by the yelping and
baying。 In less than a quarter of a mile they were on his haunches；
and he wheeled and stood under a bush； charging at them when they came
near him； and once catching one； inflicting an ugly cut。 All the while
his te