112 pioneee life; ok, 



different elk. He followed his dog and I followed 

 mine. In a short time I heard the report of his gun, 

 but followed on after my elk for about seven miles, 

 when I returned to the place where I had left my 

 companion. I asked him where was the elk that I 

 had heard him shoot. He replied that as he fired 

 the elk fell, and he supposed him dead. Laying 

 down his gun and bag of four, he approached the 

 elk, placed his foot upon his antlers, and attempted 

 to cut his throat, but as soon as the knife touched his 

 neck the elk sprang up, and seeing the bag of flour, 

 he rushed at it, struck his antlers through it and ran 

 off with the flour above his head. We started in 

 pursuit, and followed the track to a dry, stony ridge, 

 where we could no longer distinguish it, and we 

 struck across to our camp, arriving there a little 

 after dark. As we had bread enough for only two 

 days, we concluded to go down to the block-house 

 and recruit. The others had been there before us, 

 and left word upon a shingle that they had killed 

 eight elk, and there was still a chance to kill more. 

 They desired us to come up with the canoe after the 

 meat, which Knapp wished to do ; but I resolved not 

 to join the others and incur their ridicule until I 

 had met with better success. Knapp said he should 

 take the canoe and meet the others, even if he was 

 compelled to go alone. I accordingly put up a sup- 

 ply of provisions and prepared to hunt alone Just 

 before I started, however, Knapp's courage failed, 

 and he concluded to accompany me. We proceeded 

 up Big Pine Creek, in the direction the others had 



