88 pioneer life; or, 



the other. We encamped wit-Inn live rods of the 

 rock, and prepared our supper After some consulta- 

 tion, we concluded not to attempt catching the elk 

 until daylight, as it was now two o'clock at night. 

 We accordingly called oft' the dogs, and arranged it 

 so as to take turns in watching him. 1 watched for 

 the first two hours, when he lay down and I awoke 

 Gamble, who was to take the next watch. In a short 

 time he laid down again, thinking the elk would not 

 leave the rock before morning. At daybreak I awoke 

 and perceived that the elk had gone, and the dogs 

 were asleep. I soon dressed and took the dogs to 

 the rock and sent them after the elk, which had 

 taken the back track I thought that if the dogs 

 foimfl and attacked hini he would return to the rock. 

 When I returned to the camp I found the others 

 dressing, and told them what I had done. They 

 thought we might as well pack up and start in pur- 

 suit immediately after breakfast, as they did not 

 believe he would return to the rock. In a short time, 

 he came bounding back, and again took his station 

 on the rock. We found that we could not rope him 

 while he remained on the rock, and we therefore 

 withdrew and allowed him to come off. He went 

 down to the ereek, when I cut a large club and went 

 ^on the rock, telling the others to drive the elk back. 

 They let the dogs loose and he came toward the rock. 

 As he passed me, I gave him a blow with the club, 

 which made little impression on him, when I gave 

 him two more with all my strength, which dropped 

 him to his knees. He rose, wheeled around and 



