I7O ADVENTURES OF DR. ALLEN. 



''What's the matter with you?" Steward asked. "Did 

 you never see a buffalo before, or are you skeered." 



"I am charmed with the buffaloes, elks, antelopes, hills, 

 valleys,, and mountains." 



"Whar is the elk?" he asked in surprise, straining his 

 failing eyes to see them. 



"Look among the foothills to the north and you will see 

 plenty of them," I said. 



"Oh, yes, I see them now. Wai, I guess we will be 

 able to load our packs soon." 



"We must first find wood and water, then we will take 

 a promenade over that way. Let's be off at once. I am 

 eager for the chase." 



Steward needed no further urging. We took our 

 course toward a quaking-asp thicket, about two miles to the 

 northwest. We there found plenty of wood and water. The 

 pack-saddles, blankets, and cooking utensils were torn from 

 the backs of our weary animals, but they kept looking into 

 the thicket, snorting and acting very strangely. 



"I'll bet thar's Injuns in thar," said Steward, with a 

 wise shake of his head. "Old John always tells me when 

 thar's Injuns nigh." 



"I'll take a turn through the thicket and see what's up, 

 while you picket the horses," I said. 



I took my gun and went around the thicket, looking 

 closely, but could find no trail of any kind. I came back 

 and reported to Steward,, but he shook his head dubiously. 



"John don't lie," he said decidedly. "Go into the hollar 

 and look. Thar's a screw loose somewhar. Keep your hand 

 on your head if you value your scalp." 



I took an old game trail and soon saw the tracks of a 

 very large bear. My senses were alert at once ; I filled my 

 gun with cartridges and -crept forward more carefully. A 



