126 HE IS TOO WIDE-AWAKE. 



roughing it in the forest), we again started off, on what 

 was then considered an almost hopeless pursuit. 



Coupling the dogs, we at first quietly followed on the 

 tracks of the deer for the purpose of ringing him, which 

 ohject was effected on an elevated knoll at no great distance 

 from the bivouac. Before starting an elk, it is always desir- 

 able to adopt this course, for knowing his whereabouts one 

 has then a better chance of stealing upon the animal whilst 

 in his lair, or whilst feeding. In this instance, however, our 

 endeavour to circumvent the deer proved unsuccessful ; for 

 before we could approach to within anything like gun-shot of 

 his lair, he had taken the alarm and decamped. 



Nothing now remained for us but to slip the dogs, and to 

 follow on the tracks of the deer, and trust to the chapter 

 of accidents; but owing to the very unfavourable state of 

 the snow, our best pace was a most sorry one. We were 

 greatly out of heart, and the dogs sadly tired from their 

 exertions on the preceding day ; and though they did their 

 utmost, they were unable, for some time at least, to close 

 with the elk. 



Thus we continued to drag ourselves forward, until long 

 after noon, when, just as we had reached the brow of a 

 pretty lofty and deeply-wooded knoll, the dogs were heard 

 challenging in the valley beneath us. At first we imagined 

 it was a bear they had fallen in with, and hastened to their 

 assistance ; but on reaching the spot, it was found to be the 

 elk we had so long chased. He was standing nearly hock 

 deep in the snow, and so completely exhausted, as not only 

 to be unable to advance another step, but unresistingly to 

 allow the dogs to pluck the long hair from his hind-quarters. 

 He was so fairly beaten, indeed, that it is my firm impression 



