as the one that had suffered most from
the horns of the elk.

"We were now joined by Harry, who, hearing the struggle, could remain no
longer in the camp. Fortunately we found his rifle quite safe; and
Cudjo drawing his knife, let the blood out of the animal in a scientific
manner. From its great weight--not less than a thousand pounds--we saw
that we could not take the whole carcass to camp without yoking either
the horse or ox to it, so we resolved to skin and quarter it where it
lay. After going back for the necessary implements, as well as to
announce our success, we returned again, and soon finished the
operation. Before the sun had set, nearly a thousand pounds of fresh
elk-meat were dangling from the trees around our little encampment. We
had purposely delayed eating until our work should be done; and while
Cudjo and I were engaged in hanging up the huge quarters, Mary had been
busy with the gridiron, and an elk rump-steak--quite equal to the best
beef--added to the excellence of our supper."

CHAPTER FOURTEEN.

ADVENTURE WITH THE CARCAJOU.

"We arose early next morning; and, having eaten a hearty breakfast of
elk-steaks and coffee, began to consider what was the next thing to be
done. We had now quite enough of meat to carry us to the end of the
longest journey, and it only remained to be cured, so that it would keep
on the way. But how were we to cure it, when we had not a particle of
salt? Here was a difficulty which for a moment looked us in the face.
Only for a moment, for I soon recollected that there was a way of
preserving meat without salt, which has always been much in use among
Spanish people, and in countries where salt is very scarce and dear. I
had heard, too, that this method was much practised among the trappers
and hunters when laying up a stock of buffalo flesh, or of any other
animals they might chance to kill. It is called `jerking,' and the meat
when thus prepared goes by the name of `jerked meat.' By the Spaniards
it is called `tasajo.'

"I remembered having read an account of the process, and after
instructing Cudjo in it, we immediately set about `jerking' the elk. We
first built a large fire, upon which we placed a great many sticks of
green wood freshly cut from the tree. This was done so that the fire
might burn slowly, and throw out a great volume of smoke. We then stuck
several stakes into the ground around the fire, and stretched lines from
one to the other.