214 HUNTING TRIPS 



treed and taken. One minor result of the 

 encounter was to convince Merrifield the 

 list of whose faults did not include lack of 

 self-confidence that he could run down any 

 bear; in consequence of which idea we on 

 more than one subsequent occasion went 

 through a good deal of violent exertion. 



Merrifield's tale made me decide to shift 

 camp at once, and go over to the spot where 

 the bear-tracks were so plenty. Next morn- 

 ing we were off, and by noon pitched camp 

 by a clear brook, in a valley with steep, 

 wooded sides, but with good feed for the 

 horses in the open bottom. We rigged the 

 canvas wagon sheet into a small tent, shel- 

 tered by the trees from the wind, and piled 

 great pine logs near by where we wished to 

 place the fire ; for a night camp in the sharp 

 fall weather is cold and dreary unless there 

 is a roaring blaze of flame in front of the 

 tent. 



That afternoon we again went out, and I 

 shot a fine bul) elk. I came home alone to- 

 ward nightfall, walking through a reach of 



