A hunter's life 131 



was the first of October. During this summer, Dr. Urooke 

 came into our neighborhood ; aud, being a Methodist, as 

 well as a wealthy man, he brought with him a Methodist 

 preacher, whose name was John Wirsing. The preacher 

 had a new house to raise, three miles out of the settlement, 

 and in the midst of the wild animals. He notified the 

 people that, on the next Thursday, he wished to raise his 

 house, which was to be a large-sized log-cabin. 



The neighbors turned out in force, as it was for a 

 preacher. There was plenty to eat, and plenty of whiskt y 

 to drink, and all the hunters were there. One of them, 

 called Henry Dewitt, said he would bet a buckskin that 

 he and David Clark could kill more game than any other 

 two men in the company. He did this because Clark, 

 when out a day or two before, had found a place where 

 the bears had gathered in great numbers to eat beech-nuts. 



"Well, brother Henry," said a middle-aged man, called 

 John Friend, whose sister Dewitt had married, " 1 will 

 take that bet ; and how long shall the hunt continue ? " 



" This evening, to-morrow morning, and to-morrow 

 evening," was the answer ; " and then we will meet at 

 Dr. Brooke's, and count out our game." 



This being agreed to, the next question was: "Who 

 will you take with you, brother John ? " 



" I will take Andrew House," was the reply. 



Mr. House was his brother-in-law ; but he refused to be 

 one of the party. 



"Well," said Friend, "here is young Browning. I hear 

 he is not afraid of any bear. I will risk him." 



This nettled Clark ; for, when he found the beech ground 

 he now purposed going to, he shot a cub, when the old 

 bear ran at him, and he fled, leaving cuo and all, and 

 ».ever went back. However, Clark said he did not believe 

 that he, or Brorning, or any other sane man, would stand 

 •nd let a bear come on him. He said that when the cub 

 12* 



