THIRTY YEARS A HUNTER. 25 



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the flank three times with his open hand, and the 

 eecond and third blows brought him to his knees. 

 As he dropped to his knees the last time, my father 

 sprang upon his back. The horse went off very 

 quiet and gentle, and he rode it to water, came back, 

 dismounted, and led him around the yard by the 

 bridle in sight of other horses, but yet he remained 

 quiet and docile. He then made him jump three or 

 four times over a horse-trough, four or five feet high. 

 He now told the others that if they would give him 

 a bottle of wine he would take him up a flight of 

 stairs that led to the chamber-floor of the barn. They 

 eaid if he would do it they would give him five bot- 

 tles of wine. He took the horse by the bridle, and 

 led him up the stairs and down, when they gave up 

 the bets. The whole party began to drink wine 

 pretty freely and to talk about elk-hunting. Steven- 

 son stepped up to my father and asked him if he 

 could catch a live elk. He replied that he could ; 

 when Stevenson offered to bet him on it. My father 

 asked him what he was willing to bet. Stevenson 

 said he was willing to go any length, and would bet 

 two hundred and fifty pounds. My father said he 

 would accept the bet. Stevenson pledged a house, 

 lot and tanyard worth about the amount, and my 

 father ga* r e seven hundred and fifty dollars worth of 

 lumber, and two satisfactory sureties as security for 

 the performance of the undertaking. The elk was to 

 be between fourteen and sixteen hands high, and was 

 to be caught alive and brought home in less than four 

 months. My father finally asked to the middle f 



