ELK HUNT IN WYOMING 



because his slow pace might indicate exhaus- 

 tion and a disposition to lie down. The only 

 hope I had of securing him would be in case 

 of his lying down and becoming stiff from 

 his wound and not being able to get up. We 

 concluded to allow plenty of time for this to 

 happen. The guide made a circuit around 

 the timber and could discover no trace of his 

 having emerged from it. We then went 

 back to the horses and rode to camp. The 

 succeeding day we returned to the spot, 

 traced the steps of the elk to a place where 

 he had lain down, and saw a slight discolora- 

 tion of the snow where his brisket had 

 touched it, his tracks led onward, and signs 

 of bleeding had ceased. All our trouble had 

 been in vain because of an improperly ar- 

 ranged sight. 



By this time I had been about ten days in 



camp and was growing quite accustomed to 



the life. Although the weather was quite 



cold, at times going to eight or ten below 



161 



