144 HUNTING SPORTS OF THE WEST. 



ing at the skull. There is also a large crow, which tries 

 to steal the fat ; but they may be kept off by placing two 

 peeled sticks crosswise on the deer for the crows will 

 not venture their heads between two such suspicious- 

 looking objects. 



Continuing my march, I came to the bank of a stream 

 running into the Richland, when I saw a wolf spring out 

 of a thicket on the opposite side, about eighty paces off; 

 he ran about fifty yards and then stopped, but not long 

 enough for me to take aim ; finally he disappeared among 

 some rocks. I crossed over to the thicket to see how 

 Bearsgrease would take the scent of a wolf; all his hairs 

 bristled up the moment he came to the yet warm lair. 



Late in the afternoon, on my way to the camp, I struck 

 a fresh bear's trail, and followed it up, though it led me 

 out of my way. Meantime it began to rain harder, and 

 coming to a broad stream, which the bear had crossed, 

 my dog lost the trail. As it was too late to return to 

 the camp, I considered myself lucky in finding a cave, 

 two feet deep in leaves driven in by the wind. Without 

 making a fire, which would have been dangerous, I crept 

 in, taking Bearsgrease for a pillow, who was much pleased 

 thereby, and, spite of wet clothes, I slept well till morn- 

 ing, covered up with the leaves. 



The morning was cold and wet, my clothes were still 

 damp from yesterday's rain, and I was as hungry as a 

 lion ; so altogether I did not feel quite so comfortable as 

 I could wish. But walking quick to warm myself, in 

 about an hour's time I reached the place where I had 

 left the two deer, hung the fawn over my shoulders, and 

 not long after gained the camp. 



