The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1930-07-18

HE WO1F
z~4snu~u-s~s@s~a~~ sz~~s~~-~~-<z~~~--nn~~-~~s".sa
and we were refreshing ourselves
Herewith, when a loud barking OF
dogs, and loud rustling and rat
Ting through the thicket of canes.
disturbed our pleasant occupa'
ton. and, as we could see nothing
q yard off where we stood, | hur-
ried to the open ground, and with
guns in readiness we awaited
what was coming.
In a few minutes a herd OF
creatures like little pigs issued
from the thicket, and made off
in single file at a brisk trot; they
were of a uniform gray color, and
showed short sharp tusks.
My trusty double-barrel speed
lily laid two of the fugitives; the
others continued to follow the
leader in line, scarcely turning
aside to pass the dead bodies Of
their comrades, and maintaining
the same steady pace, although
Fritz and Jack also fired and
killed several.
/ felt certain that these were
peccaries, and recollected that an
odoriferous gland in the back
must be removed Immediately,
otherwise the meat will become
tainted, and quite unfit to eat.
This operation, with the help Of
my boys, I accordingly performed
at once.
Presently, hearing shots in the
direction of the hut where we
had left Ernest and his mother,
l sent Jack to their assistance,
desiring him to fetch the cart,
that the booty might be conveyed
to our encampment, employing
the time of his absence in open
ing and cleaning the animals,
thus reducing their weight.
Ernest came back with Jack
and the cart, and told US that the
procession of peccaries had passed
near the hut, and that he, with
Juno's help, had secured three Of
them.
l was glad to hear this, as I
had determined to cure a good
supply of hams, and we made
haste to load the cart; the boys
adorned it with flowers and green
boughs, and with songs of tri-
umph which made the woods ring
they conveyed the valuable sup
ply of game to the hut, where
their mother anxiously waited for
us.
After dinner we set to work
upon our pigs, singeing and scald-
ing off the bristles; l cut out
the hams, divided the flitches, be-
considerable portions of
he carcass on the dogs, and dill
cleansed and scalded the
meat, while the boys prepared a
shed, where it was to be hung
o be cured in the smoke of fires
If green wood.
This unexpected business of
course detained us in the place
or some time. On the second aay,
when the smoking shed was
'eady, the boys were anxious to
,ook the smallest porker in the
0taheitian fashion. For this pur
pose they dug a hole, in which
hey burned a quantity Of dry
yrass, sticks, and weeds, heating
which were placed round
he sides of the pit.
While the younger boys made
eady the oven, Fritz singed and
washed his peccary, stuffing it
With potatoes, onions, and herbs,
md a good %sprinkling of salt and
He then sewed up the opening,
md enveloped the pig in large
caves to guard it from the ashes
nd dust of its cooking-place.
The fire no longer blazed, but
he embers and stones were glow
ng hot; the pig was carefully
laced in the hole, covered over
With hot ashes, and the hole with
.arth, so that it looked like a
zig mole heap.
Dinner was looked forward to
yith curiosity, as well as appe- /.
lite; my wife, as usual, distrust-
ng our experiments, was not
anguine of success, and made {
eady some plain food as a "pis
{
She was well pleased with the :
uring-hut, which was big enough {
hang all our hams and bacon.
IN a wide hearth in the middle '
re kindled a large fire, which {
yas kept constantly smoldering
y heaping it with damp grass |
nd green wood. The hut being
losed in above, the smoke filled v
!, and penetrated the meat thor /
this process it had to I
ndergo for several days. L
In a few hours Fritz gave no
ice that he was going to open S
is oven. a
Great excitement prevailed as I
e removed the earth, turf, and '
tones, and a delicious appetizing t
dor arose from the opening. 1t
as the smell of roast pork, GER a
iinly, but with a flavor of spices /