THE WAPITI OR ELK 57 



ascertain if danger was near. I looked at him through 

 a powerful glass which brought him quite close and, 

 admiring him, determined to have his horns. Ahead 

 of him there was a rise in the ground which then 

 sloped gently down to the timber on the mountain 

 side. Taking a tree as a mark where I would be di- 

 rectly in front of the elk, I slipped away and made a 

 long detour, and when I reached my tree I dismounted 

 and proceeded to creep forward up the slope, exercis- 

 ing the utmost caution. The grass was long and 

 heavy and I made no noise. The wind was right. 

 The captain sat on the hill and observed my move- 

 ments and the game. When half way up the slope a 

 wolf sprang up from the grass in front of me and made 

 off. I almost put my hand on him and he gave me 

 quite a start ; but I was on my feet in a moment and 

 ran after him. The wolf quickly crossed the ridge, 

 and, when I reached the top, the elk had taken the 

 alarm and run into the woods. The captain enjoyed 

 the performance more than I did. I have never for- 

 given that wolf. 



The foregoing episodes illustrate two familiar 

 methods of pursuing elk when they were abundant. 

 The shooter rode comfortably along until he dis- 

 covered elk signs, and then dismounting, followed the 

 trail into the forest and easily bagged one and often 

 several animals, or often got in front of the animals 

 when they were grazing and let them approach witliin 

 range. I once saw some elk standing, like antelope, on 

 a slight elevation in an open plain. It was evident that 

 they saw me, and 1 made a rush at them while they 

 stood and gazed, and, jumping off mv pony when 



