ON THE PRAIRIE 221 



quite easily made out, although we 

 could follow them but slowly; for we had, 

 of course, to keep a sharp look-out ahead 

 and around us as we walked noiselessly on 

 in the sombre half-light always preva 

 under the great pine trees, through whose 

 thickly interlacing branches stray but few 

 beams of light, no matter how bright the sun 

 may be outside. We made no sound our- 

 selves, and every little sudden noise sent a 

 thrill through me as I peered about with each 

 sense on the alert. Two or three of the 

 ravens that we had scared from the carcass 

 flew overhead, croaking hoarsely; and the 

 pine tops moaned and sighed in the slight 

 breeze for pine trees seem to be ever in 

 motion, no matter how light the wind. 



After going a few hundred yards the tracks 

 turned off on a well-beaten path made by the 

 elk; the woods were in many places cut up 

 l>y these game trails, which had often be- 

 come as distinct as ordinary foot-paths. 

 The beast's footprints were perfectly plain 

 in the dust, and he had lumbered along up 



