a thing would be impossible. I have often
lain with my face so smeared, and listened to the sharp hum of the
mosquito as it approached, fancying that the next moment I should feel
its tiny touch, as it settled down upon my cheek, or brow. As soon,
however, as it came within the influence of the penny-royal I could hear
it suddenly tack round and wing its way off again, until its
disagreeable "music" was no longer heard.

The only drawback in the use of the penny-royal lies in the burning
sensation which the fluid produces upon the skin; and this in a climate
where the thermometer is pointing to 90 degrees is no slight
disqualification of the remedy. The use of it is sometimes little
better than "Hobbson's choice."

The application of it on the occasion mentioned restored the spirits of
our party, which had been somewhat kept under by the continuous attacks
of the mosquitoes, and a lively little incident that occurred soon
after, viz. the hunt and capture of a raccoon, made us all quite merry.

Cooney, though a night prowler, is sometimes abroad during the day, but
especially in situations where the timber is high, and the woods dark
and gloomy. On the march we had come so suddenly upon this one, that he
had not time to strike out for his own tree, where he would soon have
hidden from us in its deep cavity. He had been too busy with his own
affairs--the nest of a wild turkey upon the ground, under some brush and
leaves, the broken eggs in which told of the delicious meal he had made.
Taken by surprise--for the guides had ridden nearly on top of him--he
galloped up the nearest tree, which fortunately contained neither fork
nor cavity in which he could shelter himself; and a well-directed shot
from Redwood's rifle brought him with a heavy "thump" back to the ground
again.

We were all stirred up a little by this incident; in fact, the unusual
absence of game rendered ever so trifling an occurrence an "event" with
us. No one, however, was so pleased as the black waggoner Jake, whose
eyes fairly danced in his head at the sight of a "coon." The "coon" to
Jake was well-known game--natural and legitimate--and Jake preferred
"roast coon" to fried bacon at any time. Jake knew that none of us
would care to eat of his coonship. He was therefore sure of his supper;
and the "varmint" was carefully deposited in the corner of the waggon.

Jake did not have it all to himself. The trappers liked fresh meat too,
even "coon