At last they were fairly in
shot, and Herries, whose legs were beginning to be very weary,
sprang to his feet, and in another instant the foremost of the deer
lay quivering in death.
Taking it upon his shoulders, he proceeded to the camp, where his
arrival was hailed with acclamation. A fire was already alight,
made of grass and turf, the former being pulled up in handfuls by
the roots, and making a fierce but short-lived blaze. A large
quantity had been collected at hand, and the ducks were already cut
up. Half a one was handed to each; fur every man is his own cook
upon the pampas.
The other hunters shortly returned, bringing in another of the
little deer; for the stag of the pampas is of small size. They were
speedily skinned by the Gauchos, and cut up, and all the party were
now engaged in roasting duck and venison steaks on their steel
ramrods over the fire.
When all were satisfied, a double handful of tea was thrown into
the kettle, which was already boiling, pipes were lighted, and a
general feeling of comfort experienced. The horses had been
picketed close at hand, each man having cut or pulled a heap of
grass and placed it before his beast; beside which, the picket
ropes allowed each horse to crop the grass growing in a small
circle, of which he was the center.
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