INTER-OCEAN HUNTING TALES 



eighty or ninety yards distant I saw a brown 

 body disappearing amid the spruces. Aiming 

 at the spot where the shoulder should be, 

 concealed by the forest growth, a trifle in ad- 

 vance of the brown, which I recognized as 

 the belly of the elk, I fired. Stunned by the 

 bullet, the animal broke into another opening, 

 when I emptied my magazine, which con- 

 tained several additional cartridges. For- 

 tunately the animal turned out to be a bull 

 elk with a fairly good spread. I should not 

 have taken the chance except that my hunting 

 for this season was practically over, and I 

 had not shot my full allowance. Having 

 dressed the animal so as to keep its meat from 

 spoiling, we left everything and followed the 

 outfit. Shives was sent back with a pack 

 horse to get the meat and the antlers. 



At the Shives ranch a hearty welcome was 



given us. Mrs. Shives proved herself an 



admirable hostess. I shall never forget the 



repast specially prepared for us by which she 



94 



