Two good back-loads apiece filled the hand-cart; and that
was each one's proportion. When each had brought down his second load,
we filled the hand-cart, and took our way again slowly back, and
unloading, covering the hides for the night, and getting our supper,
finished the day's work.
These wooding excursions had always a mixture of something rather
pleasant in them. Roaming about in the woods with hatchet in hand,
like a backwoodsman, followed by a troop of dogs; starting up of
birds, snakes, hares and foxes, and examining the various kinds of
trees, flowers, and birds' nests, was at least, a change from the
monotonous drag and pull on shipboard. Frequently, too, we had some
amusement and adventure. The coati, of which I have before spoken,- a
sort of mixture of the fox and wolf breeds,- fierce little animals,
with bushy tails and large heads, and a quick, sharp bark, abound
here, as in all other parts of California. These, the dogs were very
watchful for, and whenever they saw them, started off in full run
after them. We had many fine chases; yet, although our dogs ran
finely, the rascals generally escaped.
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