224 THE WILDERNESS HUNTER. 



preferring to waste a few extra bullets, rather 

 than see an occasional head of game escape. 

 In consequence of these two traits the nine elk 

 I got (two running at sixty and eighty yards, 

 the others standing, at from thirty to a hundred) 

 cost me twenty-three bullets ; and I missed, 

 three shots all three, it is but fair to say, 

 difficult ones. I also cut off the heads of 

 seventeen grouse, with twenty-two shots ; and 

 killed two ducks with ten shots fifty-eight in 

 all. On the Bighorn trip I used a hundred 

 and two cartridges. On no other trip did I use 

 fifty. 



To me still-hunting elk in the mountains, 

 when they are calling, is one of the most 

 attractive of sports, not only because of the 

 size and stately beauty of the quarry and the 

 grand nature of the trophy, but because of the 

 magnificence of the scenery, and the stirring, 

 manly, exciting the nature of the chase itself. 

 It yields more vigorous 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 sound- 

 ness in wind and limb, while without the 

 heart-breaking fatigue of white-goat hunting. 

 The actual grapple with an angry grisly is of 

 course far more full of strong, eager pleasure ; 

 but bear hunting is the most uncertain, and 

 usually the least productive, of sports. 



As regards strenuous, vigorous work, and 

 pleasurable excitement the chase of the big- 

 horn alone stands higher. But the bighorn, 

 grand beast of the chase though he be, is sur- 



