210 WILD BEASTS AND THEIR WAYS CHAP. 



increase the probability of finding game, as there was a larger area 

 of covert at the bottom. I was walking carefully in front of my 

 horse, when, without any alarm given by my men from the bottom 

 of the ravine, my attention was attracted by a rushing sound in 

 the dense cotton trees, and I observed several that were in the 

 thickest part shaking in an extraordinary manner, as though an 

 elephant or a rhinoceros was rubbing itself against the stems. 



I ran forward towards the spot, and within 15 paces of me I 

 saw a wapiti stag caught by the horns; these were completely 

 entangled among the stems of the thickly growing trees, and the 

 splendid beast was taken prisoner. I could only see occasionally 

 a portion of the horns, and then, as it struggled to escape, I caught 

 sight for a moment of a head and neck sufficient to prove that it 

 was a very splendid beast, with beautiful spreading antlers. The 

 animal was almost within my grasp, and I could have shot it with 

 a pistol ; but my good resolutions stood firm ; I refused the shot, 

 as we had meat of the finest quality that would keep for a week, 

 and to kill another wapiti would be mere waste of life. In a 

 couple of minutes occupied with this humane reflection, yet sorely 

 tempted to take the shot, the stag broke loose, and I heard it 

 crashing full speed down the ravine, and my men shouting loudly 

 that I should "look out!" 



Hardly two minutes elapsed before I saw, at about 300 yards' 

 distance, the most magnificent stag that I have ever seen. This 

 splendid beast issued from the ravine, and exhibited a pair of 

 antlers that, large as the animal was, appeared quite dispro- 

 portioned to its size. They resembled the wintry appearance of a 

 large branch from an oak tree, and this was the prize which I 

 could not distinctly see when entangled in the cotton-wood, within 

 my grasp. This noble stag descended the mountain side at full 

 speed, and I watched it with longing eyes until it was completely 

 out of sight, fully determined that I would never indulge in good 

 resolutions again, that humanity was humbug, philanthropy puerile, 

 and that the rule of success depended upon the principle "Never 

 lose an opportunity." 



I was fairly disgusted with myself, and calling my men, I 

 described to them the magnificence of my lost stag. Instead of 

 consolation they said, " Well, if you're come all this way to shoot, 

 and you won't shoot, I don't quite see the use of your coming." 

 That was all I received as a reward for having spared an animal's 

 life which I did not wish to sacrifice wantonly. 



" All right ; go back and drive the covert to the end ; you may 

 depend upon it I'll take the next shot, whatever it may be." The 



