Il6 ADVENTURES OF DR. ALLEN. 



liver and heart and stripping the body of the skin, so that 

 the cougars could not ruin the head, I departed by the trail 

 over which I came, first having blazed several trees with 

 my knife, that I might find my way if it should be dark. 



Reaching my pony, I descended the mountain and 

 found it was a great sheep country. I saw plenty of fresh 

 signs, numerous trails had crossed mine since I ascended. 

 I was leading my pony down the second rimrock when 

 twelve large bull elks, appeared coming down the mountain, 

 their antlers glistening in the sunlight like an army with 

 drawn sabres. On they came with great strides, crashing 

 through dead brush and over bushes, swinging their hand- 

 some heads with ponderous antlers lying well back, spread- 

 ing the low branches of the pines. 



They were entering a park when I fired at a large, 

 dark-colored bull that was well in the lead. I had taken a 

 quartering shot at him, but was amazed to think I had 

 struck him in the back, for with the report his back jerked 

 suddenly downward. All of the herd quickly disappeared. 

 About four hundred paces down their trail I found my bull 

 which had fallen dead without a struggle. On cleaning 

 him I found the heart pierced a little below the center. 



John was dressing a large white-tail buck when I 

 reached camp. Night came on, and after a hearty supper 

 we picketed the horses close to camp, and, seated near the 

 glowing fire, related our adventures of the day. 



"I saw your elks, Allen," John began ; "they were go- 

 ing down the mountainside like a cyclone. They went down 

 the creek and will cross about ten miles below here. They 

 will run until they cross the running water ; then they will 

 stop." 



"They are like Tarn O'Shanter and the witches after the 

 gray mare Meg," said I. 



