An Elk-Hu7tt at Tzvo-Ocean Pass. 179 



finding game, creeping upon it, and tracking it when 

 wounded. With such a companion one gets much more 

 game, and learns many things by observation instead of by 

 painful experience. 



On this trip we had with us two hunters, Tazewell 

 Woody and Elwood Hofer, a packer who acted as cook, 

 and a boy to herd the horses. Of the latter, there were 

 twenty ; six saddle-animals and fourteen for the packs — two 

 or three being spare horses, to be used later in carrying the 

 elk-antlers, sheep-horns, and other trophies. Like most 

 hunters' pack-animals, they were either half broken, or else 

 broken down ; tough, unkempt, jaded-looking beasts of 

 every color — sorrel, buckskin, pinto, white, bay, roan. 

 After the day's work was over, they were turned loose to 

 shift for themselves ; and about once a week they strayed, 

 and all hands had to spend the better part of the day hunt- 

 ing for them. The worst ones for straying, curiously 

 enough, were three broken-down old '' bear-baits," which 

 went by themselves, as is generally the case with the cast- 

 off horses of a herd. There were two sleeping-tents, 

 another for the provisions,— in which we ate during bad 

 weather, — and a canvas tepee, which was put up with 

 lodge-poles, Indian fashion, like a wigwam. A tepee is 

 more difficult to put up than an ordinary tent ; but it is very 

 convenient when there is rain or snow. A small fire kindled 

 in the middle keeps it warm, the smoke escaping through 

 the open top — that is, when it escapes at all ; strings are 

 passed from one pole to another, on which to hang wet 

 clothes and shoes, and the beds are made around the 

 edges. As an offset to the warmth and shelter, the smoke 



