ELK. 163 



a fine large pointer, was flat on the ground behind me. 

 After some waiting my chosen buck gave me a fair shot ; 

 but, whether from ' buck fever ' or from allowing too 

 much for his movement in walking, I put the bullet too 

 far forward. I had time to see this when the herd rushed 

 together, looking in all directions for the danger. Slipping 

 another cartridge into my gun, I took most careful aim 

 at a splendid doe that was nearest me, and fired. To my 

 intense disgust the doe did not fall, and the whole herd 

 pitched over a bank and disappeared. Eeloading, I ran 

 to the edge of the bank, and found the herd again huddled 

 together, about 125 yards off. Again I fired after a most 

 careful aim, and at the report the whole herd went away 

 at a great rate towards some high bluffs about a mile off. 

 I now sent the dog after them and yelled frantically to 

 my servant to bring up my horse. Mounting in all haste, 

 I dashed furiously after the retreating game, which, how- 

 ever, reached and climbed the bluffs far ahead of me. 

 When, with great difficulty, I succeeded in gaining the top, 

 I found the herd again crowded together about 600 yards 

 off, and my dog just entering the compact mass. Again 

 they started. I had great fears for the dog, but presently 

 saw him bounding pertinaciously against apparently one 

 animal, which after some moments turned out of the herd 

 and came to bay. Galloping up I recognised my wounded 

 buck. A bullet dropped him, and, sending the dog on, I 

 followed at my best speed. The herd was by this time 

 out of sight. The dog, too, soon disappeared, and I 

 followed only by the dust which was kicked up by the 

 retreating herd. I was riding a well-built and most 

 powerful Canadian pony, and never before or since have 

 I ridden at such speed over such rough ground. True 

 to their instinct the elk had taken the worst ground they 

 could find. It was the soil of the ' bad lands,' through 

 which water cuts its way in ravines with perpendicular 

 sides. These were small, only a foot or two in depth and 

 from six to twelve inches wide ; but the ground was thickly 



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