142 pioneer life; or, 



ing them, reaching the camp about nine o'clock, 

 greatly fatigued. Gibson and Silverheels awoke on 

 jour arrival, and inquired what luck. Hook replied 

 that we had started three fine elk, worth five hun- 

 dred dollars each. Upon this they became quite 

 animated, and Gibson said he would chase them two 

 weeks, if necessary to catch one. I told him he 

 might follow them a month without taking one, if 

 the dogs would not go. The next morning all set 

 out, and at eleven o'clock arrived at the place where 

 we had left the elk, when I went on in advance j 

 the others following at the distance of a hundred 

 yards. I soon saw the elk, and h. r1 ted till the others 

 came up. They loosed the dogs, but it was difficult 

 for them to run through the deep snow, and tl e elk 

 gained upon them. I said it was useless for us to 

 make any farther attempt, as the dogs would soon 

 return ; but the others were eager to follow them, and 

 my objections were overruled. We followed them 

 three miles, when two of them struck off to the west, 

 the other keeping on a straight course, with the 

 dugs after it. After going another mile the dogs 

 returned. It was now between three and four 

 r o'clock, and we were all heartily discouraged. Sil- 

 verheels said it was useless to go farther, as the dogs 

 would not go through the deep snow, which I had 

 told them before. They asked me what I thought it 

 best to do. I told them that as it was near night, 

 we had better make a hemlock shanty, and stay 

 there over night, which we did, and passed the night 

 very comfortably. In the morning theyjagain asked 



