304: WILD SPORTS IN THE FAR WEST. 



he made a sudden effort, and we all three tumbled down 

 a declivity of nine or ten feet. In fulling I had dropped 

 my knife, which fell among the stones, and I felt much 

 pain in my head and left side ; but neither I nor Bears- 

 grease had let go our hold. The poor animal made 

 most desperate efforts to escape, and with our greatest 

 exertions it was hardly possible for us to hold him. 

 "\Vithout a knife there was but one method of securing 

 him ; a cruel one, indeed, but if I had to bite his neck 

 through with my teeth I would not let him go. I 

 threw him over on his side, and smashed his forelegs 

 with a sharp stone. Thus crippled, Bearsgrease could 

 hold him ; I jumped i:p, found my knife, and ended the 

 poor creature's torments. 



I succeeded in slinging it with a great deal of 

 trouble, my left side paining me exceedingly ; however 

 I managed to climb up the steep, recovered and loaded 

 my rille, and hobbled towards the camp, intending to 

 remain quiet the rest of the day. 



I found my old friend awaiting me. lie had killed 

 four bucks, and brought away their haunches, the rest 

 not being good eating at this season. We settled to 

 shoot towards the house next day, and then to take 

 horses to carry home the game we had shot. 



On our way homewards we only killed three turkeys. 

 "We caught the horses the same; evening, and once more 

 reposed our weary limbs among my old friend's family 

 circle. 



At midnight it began to rain, and towards morning 

 it poured in torrents. The game was not to be thought 

 of, and we sat round the fire amusing ourselves with 



