CHAPTER VIII. 



ANOTHER ELK HUNT. 



In December, 1811, 1 went to Lycoming county, 

 for the purpose of catching a live elk. The hunting 

 ground was in the vicinity of Pine Creek. I was 

 accompanied by my brother Benjamin, then seven- 

 teen years of age, and three men whom I had hired 

 to assist me. On the 8th we started, each man 

 carrying a knapsack with provisions for a week. We 

 also took ropes sufficient to hold an elk. We ascend- 

 ed Pine Creek about fifteen miles to a place called 

 the Lower Round Islands. Here we left the creek 

 and climbed a hill, the summit of which was two 

 miles from the base. After traveling in a westerly 

 direction about two miles we struck the track of 

 three elk. We supposed, from their freshness, that 

 they were made the evening previous, and by bucks. 

 We followed the track about a mile and a half, when 

 we came up with them, and they wheeled and gazed 

 at us. We had four dogs with us, two of which we 

 let loose. The elk started and ran about lour miles 

 and then turned and fought the dogs until we came 

 up. We then fired to encourage the dogs, when they 

 singled out one of them, and attacked him furiously. 

 Ife took a westerly course, with both dogs after him, 



