388 WILD BEASTS AND THEIR WAYS CHAP. 



power of active movement. At length they disappeared in a dark 

 hollow about 200 yards distant, where some spruce firs grew in the 

 depression of a stream bed. 



On the other side of this depression was a small open slope of 

 grass ; this was bordered by the main forest. I had of course 

 reloaded, but I could not understand the possibility of the wapiti 

 having retreated to such a distance with the '577 solid bullet in 

 his shoulder. 



I had now raised the back-sight for 250 yards in the expecta- 

 tion of seeing the three wapiti emerge from the hollow, and appear 

 upon the clear open space before they could reach the forest. 

 Although it would be a long shot, it would be absolutely necessary 

 to stop the wounded animal, otherwise in all probability we should 

 never see it again. 



Presently a pair of spreading antlers appeared, as a fine stag 

 slowly walked up the steep incline, and appeared upon the open 

 slope. I raised the rifle to my shoulder. " That's not the one," 

 said Jem. "I know that; hold your tongue," I replied, still 

 keeping in readiness. Another stag appeared. "That's not the 

 one either," exclaimed irrepressible Jem. Both these fine beasts 

 entered the forest, and disappeared. I lowered my rifle. " He's 

 lying dead in the hollow," continued Jem. 



I began to think this was the case, but presently a grand pair 

 of antlers appeared, followed by the stag, which slowly rose from 

 the depression, passed through the fringe of spruce trees upon tlie 

 slope, and emerged upon the open ground, over which it slowly 

 walked, almost in the tracks of those which had preceded it. 



I took a very steady aim, and fired. The great stag reeled 

 and fell just as the sound of the bullet upon impact returned to 

 our ears. 



" Well done ! he's got it this time ; that's a fine rifle and no 

 mistake," exclaimed Jem, who immediately ran forward towards 

 the distant prize. I followed slowly ; as I stepped the distance, 

 it was 240 long paces to the bottom of the hollow. I could not 

 measure the steep slope, as I had to scramble up the bank, but 

 taking the direct line of the bullet's flight it was about 250 yards. 



We now examined the wapiti. This was indeed a prize. We 

 knew that the first shot should have struck the left side, likewise 

 the last shot ; but there was only one bullet -wound ; this was 

 through the centre of the shoulder. We now cut it open, and 

 grallocked the immense animal, to render it easier to examine. 

 The bullet had gone through the centre of the heart : it had 

 broken the shoulder on the opposite side, and had lodged beneath 



