21 



rived we had our first game dinner. L. and Joe then started 

 on again for Gilbert's Meadow. Went up the valley (which 

 was rather thickly wooded) for three miles to Steel's Mills, 

 then, turning to the left, crossed the West Branch of Smith's 

 Fork, then three miles further on up a hill and through 

 the woods till they came out in a beautiful open meadow, 

 where the camp was pitched in a splendid grove of pine-trees 

 near a little brook in the southwest corner. Observations 

 were made at six, and then, while L. was fixing camp and 

 waiting for M., Joe went out and pretty soon a rifle-shot was 

 heard ; then all was quiet, until Joe walked in a little later 

 with a deer's heart and liver. M. came soon after, and we 

 had the liver for supper, which we found delicious. We then 

 built a good fire, and after rolling up in our blankets with 

 our feet towards it, went to sleep lulled by the music of the 

 pines. Occasionally a wolf or an owl gave variety to the 

 dulcet tones. 



AUGUST 4, SATURDAY. 



We did not sleep much last night on account of the cold. 

 We saw some deer, but they ran away before we got a 

 chance at them. We were paid, however, in a moment for 

 our disappointment, as two elk appeared and came down 

 for water, and we shot both ; one got away, as he was only 

 wounded. After breakfast Joe went back to Bridger with 

 some instructions, and left us to take care of the elk and 

 the deer. We sent a quarter of the deer to General Flint by 

 him. Our knives were rather dull, and we spent the morn- 

 ing cutting the two animals up. Then came a difficulty ; we 

 could not get the mule within fifty feet of any blood, and 

 when we came near him with bloody hands he would rear 

 and kick like all possessed ; so we had hard work to get the 

 deer on him ; then we took him back to camp and brought 

 out Joe's old black horse, which stood it better. After quar- 

 tering our elk we found we could only manage one quarter 

 between us, and even then it was not much fun. We carried 

 this back and then got our dinner. Then we set about ar- 

 ranging our camp. By evening all was completed, and we 

 sat down to a comfortable supper of venison. We saw more 

 deer, but were too tired to go after them. 



