186 HUNTING TRIPS 



preserving, except to call to mind a chase 

 in which during a few minutes I did as much 

 downright hard work as it has often fallen to 

 my lot to do. The burnt earth had blackened 

 our faces and hands till we looked like ne- 

 groes. 



The bull elk had at this time begun call- 

 ing, and several times they were heard right 

 round camp at night, challenging one another 

 or calling to the cows. Their calling is 

 known to hunters as " whistling " ; but this 

 is a most inappropriate name for it. It is 

 a most singular and beautiful sound, and is 

 very much the most musical cry uttered by 

 any four-footed beast. When heard for the 

 first time it is almost impossible to believe 

 that it is the call of an animal; it sounds 

 far more as if made by an ^Eolian harp or 

 some strange wind instrument. It consists 

 of quite a series of notes uttered continu- 

 ously, in a most soft, musical, vibrant tone, 

 so clearly that they can be heard half a 

 mile off. Heard in the clear, frosty moon- 

 light from the depths of the rugged and for- 



