196 HUNTING TRIPS 



ravine, there was a crash and movement in 

 the timber below me, and immediately after- 

 wards I caught a glimpse of a great bull elk 

 trotting up through the young trees as he 

 gallantly breasted the steep hill-side oppo- 

 site. When clear of the woods, and directly 

 across the valley from me, he stopped and 

 turned half round, throwing his head in the 

 air to gaze for a moment at the intruder. 

 My bullet struck too far back, but, never- 

 theless, made a deadly wound, and the elk 

 went over the crest of the hill at a wild, 

 plunging gallop. We followed the bloody 

 trail for a quarter of a mile, and found him 

 dead in a thicket. Though of large size, he 

 yet had but small antlers, with few points. 



