i6o The VVildeiniess Htmter. 



valley. The shock threw them both on their haunches ; 

 with locked horns and g-laring eyes they strove against 

 each other, getting their hind legs well under them, strain- 

 ing every muscle in their huge bodies, and squealing 

 savagely. They were evenly matched in weight, strength, 

 and courage ; and push as they might, neither got the 

 upper hand, first one yielding a few inches, then the other, 

 while they swayed to and fro in their struggles, smashing 

 the bushes and ploughing up the soil. 



Finally they separated and stood some little distance 

 apart, under the great pines ; their sides heaving, and 

 columns of steam rising from their nostrils through the 

 frosty air of the brightening morning. Again they rushed 

 together with a crash, and each strove mightily to overthrow 

 the other, or get past his guard ; but the branching antlers 

 caught every vicious lunge and thrust. This set-to was 

 stopped rather curiously. One of the onlooking elk was 

 a yearling ; the other, though scarcely as heavy-bodied as 

 either of the fighters, had a finer head. He was evidently 

 much excited by the battle, and he now began to walk 

 towards the two combatants, nodding his head and uttering 

 a queer, whistling noise. They dared not leave their flanks 

 uncovered to his assault ; and as he approached they 

 promptly separated, and walked off side by side a few yards 

 apart. In a moment, however, one spun round and jumped 

 at his old adversary, seeking to stab him in his unprotected 

 flank ; but the latter was just as quick, and as before caught 

 the rush on his horns. They closed as furiously as ever ; 

 but the utmost either could do was to inflict one or two 

 punches on the neck and shoulders of his foe, where the 



