American Big-Game Hunting 



ever undertook, and more than once was on the 

 point of giving it up. However, my desire to 

 substantiate my claim of having bagged the 

 largest deer of any of the party sharpened 

 my wits. Snubbing "Coffee's" nose up tight 

 against a tree growing at the base of a ledge 

 on to which I had succeeded in dragging and 

 rolling the carcass, I blindfolded him with my 

 hunting-shirt, and then managed to roll the 

 buck on the pack from the ledge. 



By the time this was accomplished, the sun 

 was sinking behind the mountain. Returning 

 slowly to the valley, no course was left me 

 but to camp for the night, for I was at least 

 fifteen miles from the stockade. I may have 

 been a fit subject for the Society for the Preven- 

 tion of Cruelty to Animals, but " Coffee" spent 

 that night in the embrace of a *' diamond 

 hitch," holding the buck securely on his back. 

 After making a hearty supper off the bear- 

 meat, and dressing the wounds of the dogs, — 

 which, by the way, healed rapidly, consider- 

 ing their terrible nature and the fact that I 

 had nothing but bear's-grease to dress them 

 with, — I hobbled " Coffee," and, being thor- 

 oughly exhausted, rolled myself up in a 

 84 



