The Quarterly of the Texas State Historical Association, Volume 3, July 1899 - April, 1900 Page: 31

Adventures of the "Lively" Immigrants. 31
taking his entrails out, I went to see if I had missed the other. I
found hair cut, but a little too white; but soon I saw blood, and was
satisfied that I had killed him. I did not go any farther, but went
back to be in time to intercept Mattigan in order that he might
bring Willis with him, for I did not feel like carrying the meat for
them. I found, however, that Mattigan had met the crowd coming
up and had crossed over and was at the camp. I told him to go
and call Mr. Willis and tell him that I wanted him and to instruct
him how to get over. He went, and on his return he reported that
he got a chance and beckoned him to the bank and delivered his
message. He came, and we all went up to my deer. I went on and
found the other, but a wolf had been there before me and had eaten
into the flanks, but not to do much harm. I told them to skin
down the legs, and tie a hind left to the right fore leg, all around.
Then each took a deer.
It was to our interest to try to save the meat when we reached
camp by cooking it. I should have said by barbecuing it, for all
cooking utensils had been left at the mouth of the river except a
small kettle and frying pan, neither of which we had on our side.
We collected wood for the night and got sprits to put the pieces on
before the fire to roast. We took turns in sitting up and attending
to the fire and the meat.
In the morning, I concluded to go over and see what the others
were doing. They made no preparation to save any of the meat,
except as they ate it. Beddinger had killed another deer, and that
was lying unskinned. I asked him why he had not skinned it.
He said he thought he had done his part, he had killed it.
Well, we spent that day in doing very little, but late in the even-
ing I killed a fine turkey, very fat, and this we hung before the fire,
and had it well cooked by morning. I said, we would not touch it
until we saw if the old Governor would come. This came near be-
ing the cause of some trouble. While I was gone up the river, the
man Nelson found the way around to our camp, and the roasted
turkey was too much for him. He concluded to take off a leg. He
was the dog with the collar on among the others. Mattigan told
him it was not to be cut, that I had said it was to be kept for the
old Governor. Nelson said he intended to have a piece of it any-
how, and made a start for it. Mattigan had my big knife, and told
him if he touched the turkey he would cut his skull open. Just at