76 pioneer life; or, 



they concluded to continue, and we started after 

 the elk. We went two miles and found where he 

 had been feeding. A short distance farther we saw 

 him lying down. All the dogs were then let loose, 

 when they pursued the elk very closely, and the 

 whole party of us ran about four miles, whooping 

 and shouting with all out might, when we met the 

 dogs returning. The men were again discouraged, 

 and desired to go home. I told them they were now 

 going toward home, and they might as well continue. 

 Some harsh words followed, when I told them it was 

 my business whether they went home or not, and 

 that I should not consider myself bound to pay them 

 if they did not remain with me until I had secured 

 an elk. They then concluded to go on, and we fol- 

 lowed the^track about six miles, and arrived at a 

 high mouutain, with steep, rocky sides, and within 

 two miles of the place from which we started, be- 

 tween Cedar Run and Big Pine Creek, at the mouth 

 of the former stream. From there the elk took a 

 westerly course again. On the side toward Pine 

 Creek many of the rocks rose two or three hundred 

 feet perpendicular. From appearances, we judged 

 that the elk had been on the rocks, awaiting the 

 dogs, and this would have been a capital chance to 

 secure him, if the dogs had kept up the chase. The 

 men, thinking that the elk had departed from the 

 homeward course, wanted to leave the track. I had 

 '*een there before, and knew where we were, but 

 they were totally unacquainted with the place. I 

 pointed to the rocks and said, "If you wish to sro 



