THE WORLD'S FAIR KING. 289 



and found where the bull had crossed over. On a 

 little hill were signs that the bull had stopped 

 and looked back over his trail and then, seeing that 

 he was not followed, had moved off more leisurely. 

 A long grove of quaking asps led up the side of the 

 mountain along a branch of the Williams River, 

 and up this branch Dyche crept, carefully, towards a 

 grove. Just as he raised his head to take a look be- 

 tween the trees the elk started at a round trot. 

 Quickly throwing the Winchester forwards, the nat- 

 uralist sent a ball after the animal, which had the 

 effect of accelerating its pace. A second shot was 

 fired which caused the bull to break into a run. Now 

 it came into plain view and a third shot was fired. 

 With the report the animal disappeared over the 

 ridge. 



Hastening to the spot where the elk was last seen, 

 Dyche found the magnificent creature lying dead. 

 He was a grand specimen and well fitted to lead the 

 group which had been begun for the World's Fair. 

 His standing height was just sixty-three inches, while 

 his girth was seventy-five inches just behind the shoul- 

 der. His girth about the abdomen measured eighty- 

 three inches. He was not phenomenal in size or 

 length of horns, but his proportions were perfect and 

 his skin was at its very best, being especially rich in 

 colour. By the time the other members of the party 

 reached the spot all the measurements had been taken 

 and the naturalist was skinning his prize. As the 

 pack- train came in sight the doctor gave a cheer. His 

 first question showed what was uppermost in every- 

 one's mind. 



