ON THE TRAIL OF ELK. . 279 



were rolling, bucking, and kicking at one time and 

 the packs were in danger of complete demoralisation. 



" Catch old Blackey ! catch old Blackey !" excitedly 

 called the judge as he ran breathlessly around the 

 pitching and kicking squad. 



" What's the matter with Blackey?" was the ques- 

 tion as the other members of the quartette ran to his 

 assistance. 



" Why, the raspberry jam and pickles are in his 

 pack." 



The fears of the judge were only too well founded, 

 for the jam and pickles became badly mixed, and the 

 only consolation that was afforded the judge in his 

 misfortune was the remark from the doctor that " they 

 are all the better for that." This, however, did not 

 meet the unqualified approval of the judge, who at 

 once laid down a little law as to the conduct of the 

 expedition. It took a full hour to get matters 

 straightened out and all the rest of the day for the 

 members of the party fully to express their opinions 

 of the episode. 



About the middle of the afternoon of the next day 

 the party reached a spot in the heart of the moun- 

 tains near Pagoda Peak which seemed suitable for 

 a prolonged stay. After dinner Jim undertook 

 to arrange the camp while the others went out to 

 look for elk. The judge went east and the doctor 

 north, while Dyche went through the heavy for- 

 est and brush to the northwest. After about two 

 miles of slow travel, he found the fresh track of an 

 elk and began stalking carefully. While moving 

 silently through the underbrush he heard the animal 



29 



