xxiv THE WAPITI 393 



within about 300 yards it observed us, and turning away, it re- 

 treated across the open, making towards the direction of the 

 higher ground. 



We now observed specks moving upon the surface at so great 

 a distance that I thought they were black-tail deer, until the 

 binoculars declared them to be wapiti. A rigid inspection with 

 the glasses proved them to be eight fine stags that were slowly 

 trotting on before us, as though they had been recently disturbed. 



It struck me that they must have seen the buffalo gallop off in 

 retreat, and this was the cause of their disturbance. We followed 

 at a canter, to keep them within our view, as I felt sure they 

 would turn to the right, and seek the shelter of the forests upon 

 the slopes, above the winding valley. In about ten minutes we 

 had gained upon them considerably, and they had neared the 

 margin of the plateau. As I had expected, they now disappeared 

 one by one, as they descended to the lower ground. 



We rode quickly to the spot upon which they had been lost to 

 view : their tracks showed plainly the course of their descent. 

 This was a narrow grassy slope interspersed with a few spruce firs, 

 forming a division in the long dark foliage which clothed the hill- 

 side for a distance of many miles. 



The opposite side of the valley was different in general character, 

 as the hills, which rose to a considerable altitude and formed a 

 wall, were not completely covered with forest, but on the contrary 

 they were grassy slopes, only cut at intervals by ravines which had 

 been scooped by water ; these were clothed with spruce. 



The bottom of the valley was not wider than 300 yards, and 

 although it was more or less occupied by forest, there were many 

 extensive tracts of open grass ground which afforded excellent 

 pasturage ; the little stream through this valley would ultimately 

 flow through our camp, about 3 or 4 miles distant in our rear. 



There was nothing in view when we scanned this valley with 

 the glasses ; accordingly we dismounted, to ease the horses in the 

 very steep descent ; we then followed upon the tracks of the eight 

 wapiti towards the bottom. 



Upon arrival at the stream, the tracks led across ; upon the 

 opposite side, after a search over a few hundred yards, we dis- 

 covered the tracks of a large herd of these animals, among which 

 those of our eight scared wapiti were confounded and utterly lost. 

 It now became a serious question, " Where were they gone ? " 

 Having crossed the stream, I did not think they would have 

 returned to the other side. They would not be likely to remain 

 in the bottom of the valley. I therefore considered they would 



