EECKLESS SLAUGHTER OF WAPITTI BY INDIANS. 83 



females invariably performing the duties of sentinels, and 

 although they are less difficult of approach than either the 

 Virginian or black-tailed deer, still it is necessary for the 

 stalker never to disregard wind and intervening obstacles 

 if he desire to get sufficiently close to the game to deal it 

 a certain shot. 



In very stormy weather, particularly if it be accompanied 

 with snow, however, I have known them possess the utmost 

 indifference to man's presence, so that even after being 

 wounded they would scarcely move above a few yards from 

 the place where they had been stricken. In fact, under 

 such circumstances, they appear to get confused and afraid 

 to flee, lest the herd should become separated and broken 

 up. On such occasions as these the Indians make great 

 havoc among them ; for it is a peculiarity of this race that 

 they never cease from slaughter while a survivor remains 

 within their reach. One would imagine that experience 

 would teach them otherwise, for there is scarcely a year 

 that these aborigines are not reduced to the most desperate 

 straits from famine ; but their improvidence is inherent, 

 and to the end of time they will practise the adage, 

 " Sufficient for the evil is the day thereof." 



I cannot leave the Wapitti deer without recording one 

 of the numerous adventures that occurred to me while a 

 resident in the region that they inhabit. As a rule my 

 contretemps in their pursuit were not very exciting, for 

 they are a large animal, and as I have previously said, 

 far from as wary as many smaller species of the genus ; 

 thus if the first barrel had not effectually done its work 

 of destruction the second seldom failed, for it was a 



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