The Wapiti or Round-Horned Elk. 159 



buttoned our jackets, and went to sleep. Of course our 

 slumbers were fitful and broken, for every hour or two the 

 fire got low and had to be replenished. We wakened 

 shivering out of each spell of restless sleep to find the logs 

 smouldering ; we were alternately scorched and frozen. 



As the first faint streak of dawn appeared in the dark 

 sky my companion touched me lightly on the arm. The 

 fire was nearly out ; we felt numbed by the chill air. At 

 once we sprang up, stretched our arms, shook ourselves, 

 examined our rifles, swallowed a mouthful or two of bread, 

 and walked off through the gloomy forest. 



At first we could scarcely see our way, but it grew 

 rapidly lighter. The gray mist rose and wavered over the 

 pools and wet places ; the morning voices of the wilderness 

 began to break the death-like stillness. After we had 

 walked a couple of miles the mountain tops on our right 

 hand reddened in the sun-rays. 



Then, as we trod noiselessly over the dense moss, and 

 on the pine needles under the scattered trees, we heard a 

 sharp clang and clatter up the valley ahead of us. We 

 knew this meant game of some sort ; and stealing lightly 

 and cautiously forward we soon saw before us the cause 

 of the noise. 



In a little glade, a hundred and twenty-five yards from 

 us, two bull elk were engaged in deadly combat, while two 

 others were looking on. It was a splendid sight. The 

 great beasts faced each other with lowered horns, the manes 

 that covered their thick necks, and the hair on their 

 shoulders, bristling and erect. Then they charged furiously, 

 the crash of the meeting antlers resounding through the 



