310 FORTY-FOUR YEARS OF 



at his heels. They ran close by mc ; but, beinj^ fidgety, 

 I shot without so much as cutting a hair off him, though 

 I was not more than five steps distant ; and thus, by my 

 own bad conduct, lost fifteen dollars, which was the premium 

 allowed on each wolf. I killed two more deer before I got 

 into camp, which made the number secured, so far, eleven. 



I had left my little Mary in a critical condition ; and 

 as, the night before, I had dreamed of seeing her in a deep, 

 muddy river, I was so distressed by my vision that I could 

 not stay any longer ; and, cold as it was, I turned the 

 cattle into the road, put the boys on the horses, and started 

 for home. I wrapped the blankets round the boys, and 

 drove the cattle as fast as they could travel, until I came 

 to a creek ; which being frozen, I attempted to break the 

 ice, and in doing so, fell through to my knee in the water. 

 I was sure I should freeze, as I had nearly eight miles 

 still to travel ; but, taking a towel which we had with us, 

 I pulled oflF my stocking, wrapped up the foot that was 

 wet, put on my moccasin, and got home safe. 



Little Mary had presented me with a young son, and 

 was doing finely, to my great satisfaction. After the wea- 

 ther moderated, I drove out with a sled and horses and 

 brought the venison home safe. 



Whilst I was writing this narrative, Mr. Enlow came 

 into my room, and mentioned two bear-hunts in which he 

 had been my companion, and we agreed to give their de- 

 tails according to his recollection. They had entirely es- 

 caped my memory. 



•' While I lived at the ' Blooming Rose,' wishing to have 

 a bear-hunt, I took with me my i-ifle and a good dog, and 

 started for Meshach Browning's ; knowing that he was 

 fond of hunting bears, and would know where to find 

 them. 



"We started ofiF the following morning for the beech- 

 grounds, which we found completely upturned by tlie bears 



