202 The Wilderness Hunter. 



exciting nature of the chase itself. It yields more vigor- 

 ous enjoyment than does lurking stealthily through the 

 grand but gloomy monotony of the marshy woodland 

 where dwells the moose. The climbing among the steep 

 forest-clad and glade-strewn mountains is just difficult 

 enough thoroughly to test soundness in wind and limb, 

 while without the heart-breaking fatigue of white goat 

 hunting. The actual grapple with ah angry grisly is of 

 course far more full of strong, eager pleasure ; but bear 

 hunting is the most uncertain, and usually the least pro- 

 ductive, of sports. 



As regards strenuous, vigorous work, and pleasurable 

 excitement the chase of the bighorn alone stands higher. 

 But the bighorn, grand beast of the chase though he be, 

 is surpassed in size, both of body and of horns, by certain 

 of the giant sheep of Central Asia ; whereas the wapiti is 

 not only the most stately and beautiful of American game 

 far more so than the bison and moose, his only rivals 

 in size but is also the noblest of the stag kind through- 

 out the world. Whoever kills him has killed the chief of 

 his race ; for he stands far above his brethren of Asia and 

 Europe. 



