282 CAMP-FIRES OF A NATURALIST. 



tures of the animals. He noted the carriage of the 

 head and neck and ears and got a good idea of the 

 appearance of the elk at home. One old cow grazed 

 to within fifty yards of Dyche and then lay down 

 and chewed her cud. Then the bull walked over 

 that way and stood even closer. The temptation 

 to shoot was very great, hut the naturalist resisted 

 it. Suddenly three other elk trotted into the park, 

 seemingly under some excitement, which was com- 

 municated to the band and the whole lot went out 

 of the opening at a round trot, moving off up the 

 mountain and making a beautiful picture. 



A depressed feeling came over Dyche as he saw 

 the band going away, and he felt as though some- 

 thing, he knew not what, had gone wrong. Return- 

 ing to camp he found the doctor there, but the judge 

 and Jim were nowhere in sight or within earshot. 

 The doctor was sure the men were lost, as they were 

 still going north through the heavy snow-storm when 

 he had left them early in the afternoon. 



"We gave up that elk after travelling through 

 heavy forests and much down timber, and I came 

 back to Pagoda Peak and got my bearings while they 

 kept going. They will have trouble before they see 

 camp again. But it's all the better for that. Jim 

 knows the mountains and the judge will learn after 

 a few more experiences." 



The doctor's prediction was verified, for several 

 hours passed with no sign of either of the missing 

 men. Signal-shots were fired at intervals and finally 

 an answer was heard, and then the judge came stum- 

 bling into camp about ten o'clock. He was greatly 



