170 GAME. 



of the hunter's depth in the centre ; and, even had he 

 followed, the pursuer could have done nothing but pound 

 the elk on the antlers, which would have produced no 

 effect. Besides, if the elk had mustered courage enough 

 to show fight, both horse and rider would have been 

 helpless. The lakelet was not over fifty yards across ; 

 but after pelting the elk with sticks and stones, and 

 failing to dislodge him from his retreat, my friend was 

 fain to return home discomfited, wet, sore, disappointed, 

 and miserable. He has not forgiven that elk to this 

 day. 



Next to the buffalo the elk is the animal on which 

 the Indian depends for food. The plains Indians usually 

 stalk them, and are very successful. Not being biassed 

 by such puerile considerations as size, appearance, or 

 wealth of antlers, the Eed hunter fires at that animal 

 which he is most sure to hit, and, having wounded, is 

 almost sure to bag it, as he will follow its trail for miles, 

 if necessary, with indomitable patience, and the instinct 

 of a hound. 



The Utes, Bannocks, and other Indians living on the 

 slopes of the mountains, sometimes make a wholesale 

 slaughter in winter. A herd being discovered, a sur- 

 round is made, and the elk are driven into a deep snow- 

 drift, where they are butchered at leisure. It is the 

 principal food of these Indians, there being no buffalo 

 in the country. 



I have been told that the remnant of a plains tribe 

 (now living in the Indian territory, but the name of 

 which I have forgotten) is very successful in killing elk 

 from horseback. Each hunter is armed with a long 

 pole, light but strong, the small end of which is split 

 and forced open for about a foot, forming a Y. About 

 six inches from the open end is fastened a knife blade, 

 sharpened to the finest edge, and set diagonally in the 

 Y; that is, one end is farther forward than the other. 

 The whole is firmly secured by thongs of raw hide. 



