THIRTY YEARS A IIUKTER. 77 



down the sides of that mountain and take the chance 

 of finding your way home, go ; I shall keep on the 

 track." But they concluded to follow me, and we 

 again started in pursuit of the elk. We went about 

 six miles, to the east branch of Cedar Bun, in the 

 forks of which we encamped for the night. The 

 next morning we proceeded about a mile and a half, 

 to the west branch of Cedar Bun, where we discov- 

 ered the elk feeding. I told them to keep the dogs 

 quiet, and we would drive him up the hili, the sum- 

 mit of which was about a mile distant. We followed 

 him about half a mile, when I told them to let loose 

 all four of the dogs, and to encourage them by firing 

 a gun. The elk then ran directly south about five 

 miles, and turned to the east. We walked on quite 

 briskly. I told them that the elk was going toward 

 a famous elk-crossing, about six miles distant, and 

 half a mile from our starting-point, called Black 

 Walnut Bottom. This seemed greatly to encourage 

 them, and they pushed on, anticipating a speedy 

 return home. About a mile and a half farther, the 

 elk ran toward a rock which rose about two feet 

 above the surface of the ground, and was about 

 twenty-five by forty feet on the top, but for some 

 unaccountable reason, turned away and passed on. 

 The nice scent of the dogs, however, enabled them 

 to detect the cause at once, and they left the track 

 of the elk, and commenced barking furiously arouncl 

 a hole in the center of the rock. Two of the rnen, 

 Francis and Fleeharty, .were in advance of me, and 

 when they arrived at the rock, they sent all the log^ 



•7 



