THE ELK, OR WAPITI. 281 



be lurking there. While he and two others were out scout- 

 ing, I surveyed the valley with a field -glass from a com- 

 manding eminence, and saw that large throngs of antelopes 

 and numerous herds of elks and deer were grazing over it, 

 or playfully running about. When the leader returned, he 

 stated that he could find no indications anywhere of the 

 presence of the red men, and that it would therefore be 

 safe to enter the place. As we wished to get as much 

 meat as we could in as short time as possible, we concluded 

 to run the elks, as they would afford us the best sport and 

 meat, and our chances of success were greater with them 

 than if we went after the smaller deer or the prong-horns. 



Moving forward slowly, we were soon to the leeward of 

 two herds of elks which were grazing on the outskirts of a 

 coppice, and, when we got near enough to them to under- 

 take a dash with some assurances of success, we charged 

 them boldly. That seemed to be the first time they had 

 any suspicion of our dangerous character ; but, when once 

 assured of it, they broke away singly or in groups, and 

 headed directly up wind and across the valley. Each man 

 singled out his quarry, and in a short time the hills and 

 mountains were echoing with the reports of rifles and re- 

 volvers. I selected a burly stag that had magnificent ant- 

 lers, and in a run of less than half a mile was near enough 

 to cause him to break his trot, and fall into a fast, ungainly 

 gallop. Knowing that he could not keep that pace very 

 long, I urged my horse forward at his best speed, and kept 

 him at it until the quarry resumed the long and rapid trot 

 for which its family is noted. The ground being good, I 

 had every advantage over the fugitive, as my horse was 

 both fast and enduring. After a run of two miles or more, 

 I drew along-side his flank, and, placing my revolver close 

 enough to his back to burn the hair, I fired, and broke his 

 spinal column. He fell headlong on his antlers, but, before 

 he reached the ground, I got in another shot in the head, 

 and he tumbled over dead. As he lay outstretched before 

 me, I fairly gloated over him, for he was one of the largest 

 and handsomest stags I ever saw. On looking around for 



