38 CANADIAN NIGHTS 



agreed that the stag had the biggest antlers that 

 ever were seen — ^which is always the case with the 

 deer you dorCt get — ^we would put out our pipes, 

 and sleep till daylight warned us to set about our 

 appointed task, which was to find a deer somehow, 

 for the larder wanted replenishing. 



In those days you had not far to seek for game, 

 and you could scarcely go wrong in any direction 

 at any season of the year. In winter and spring 

 the Park still swarms with game ; but it is neces- 

 sary in summer to know where to look for it, to 

 understand its manners and customs, to go further 

 and to work harder than formerly, for Estes Park 

 is civilised. In summer time beautiful but danger- 

 ous creatures roam the Park. The tracks of tmy 

 little shoes are more frequent than the less in- 

 teresting, but harmless, footprints of mountain 

 sheep. You are more likely to catch a glimpse of 

 the flicker of the hem of a white petticoat in the 

 distance than of the glancing form of a deer. 

 The marks of carriage wheels are more plentiful 

 than elk signs, and you are not now so likely to be 

 scared by the human-like track of a gigantic bear 

 as by the appalling impress of a number eleven 

 boot. That is as it should be. There is plenty of 

 room elsewhere for wild beasts, and nature's 



