EARLY DAY STORIES. 163 



camp there was a drove of mares and colts, a hundred or 

 more in number led by an old mare with a bell. The cattle 

 were almost as wild as the deer, and would run off on the 

 approach of anyone on foot. There were cattle trails lead- 

 ing to the watering places the same as the buffalo trails of 

 the early days, only they were not so deeply worn. No 

 human habitations were met with anywhere, there being 

 no settlers, and the cattle ranches were few and widely scat- 

 tered. 



The next morning after the camp had been made on 

 Salt creek, we all started out for a hunt except the Old Man, 

 who kept the camp. I hunted faithfully and carefully all 

 day, and was the last one in at night, not reaching camp 

 until it was dusk. I saw nothing bigger than a magpie, al- 

 though there were plenty of game signs ; all the others had 

 seen deer and Carl had killed two, one big one and one small 

 one. Charley was a good cook and supper was ready, con- 

 sisting of pancakes, broiled venison and tea, and a little 

 fried bacon to furnish gravy for the pancakes. The supper 

 was fine and the evening was pleasantly spent, everybody 

 seeming elated over the prospects except myself. I felt that 

 my reputation was at stake, and was thinking over plans to 

 redeem it the next day. 



The next morning I was up and had cooked and eaten 

 breakfast before daylight while the others were asleep. Just 

 as the light began to appear in the east and as the others 

 were beginning to get out, I started out for the day's hunt, 

 and was a mile away from camp before it was light enough 

 to see to shoot. Soon there began to be fresh signs of elk, 

 and going very slowly and carefully, for the elk has a keen 

 nose and is sharp of sight, I found a herd of about forty 

 when not more than two miles from camp. They were 

 mostly lying down, and in a place where it was not very 

 difficult to approach them, although for some distance I had 

 to crawl upon my stomach, and at other places go in a stoop- 



