xxiv THE WAPITI 391 



it was not wider than 60 or 80 yards across the surface where I 

 stood. I never witnessed a sight of such utter helplessness. It 

 required great caution to descend, even for such practised moun- 

 taineers as wapiti. The herd shuffled down the precipitous incline 

 of crumbling stones, causing showers of loosened rocks, which 

 clattered with their struggling hoofs, as slowly and surely these 

 heavy animals progressed into the dangerous bottom. 



I sat upon a large stone that was close to the edge, and 

 thoroughly enjoyed the scene. If I had been inclined to commit 

 havoc, I cannot say how many I could have shot. As they slowly 

 descended, I took aim at the back of each stag's neck, and in 

 imagination only, reckoned my slain. At length the herd reached 

 the bottom, and the toilsome ascent commenced. When they 

 appeared slightly below my own level on the opposite side, my 

 sport recommenced ; I picked out every big stag, one by one ; 

 taking most accurate aim exactly between the shoulders, but never 

 firing. A skin-hunter would have killed at least thirty in such an 

 opportunity. The little ones were fatigued, and many of the 

 smaller fawns were bleating like lambs as they struggled after their 

 dams over the loosened rocks. At length they reached the surface, 

 but even then they remained exposed, as the slope was exceedingly 

 steep, and they were apparently too tired or too confident to increase 

 their pace. By degrees they disappeared across the sky-line, and I 

 never saw a large herd of wapiti again. 



My men had joined me, and they were quite annoyed at my 

 mercifid behaviour ; however, I now lead them into the thicket, 

 where a splendid stag was lying dead. They were quickly em- 

 ployed in cleaning it, to keep the flesh sweet, until we could send 

 for the head upon the following day. 



There were some fine heads among the stags which I had allowed 

 to escape, but none approaching in size to the last that I had shot. 



Some days after this exemplary exercise of mercy, I had a very 

 pretty quarter of an hour, which formed the only exception to my 

 rule of never shooting at a second wapiti, if I had killed one upon 

 the same day. 



We had ascended from the gleu in which the camp was pitched, 

 and had reached the level plateau, which extended for several 

 miles, bordered upon two sides by a continuation of the deep valley 

 in a winding course. The stream in the bottom, together with 

 good pasturage and forest-covered slopes upon the mountain sides, 

 formed an attractive combination for game. It occurred to me 

 that the animals would probably amuse themselves upon the open 

 plateau during the night, and retire soon after daylight to the 



