92 THE DEER FAMILY 



I felt that way. It was an awkward situation for at 

 least two of the three of us — the bull and me. William 

 did not share our embarrassment in the least. He 

 enjoyed it. But I was between him and the bull, and 

 fifteen feet nearer. I slowly raised my rifle, covered 

 the bull's breast and whispered over my shoulder: ' If 

 you don't quit, I'll shoot.' I said one or two other 

 things, not exactly connected sentences, rather phrases 

 to emphasize my meaning. It was plain enough and 

 suggested the risk of a heavy fine and imprisonment 

 for violating the game-laws. The canoe shook more 

 than ever, but it began to move in the right direction, 

 dropped back, and swung slowly round until the ani- 

 mal passed out of the disk of light, when I quietly 

 raised my hand and closed the jack." * 



Few sportsmen go in pursuit of moose without a 

 guide. A guide may be said to be absolutely neces- 

 sary to conduct the sportsman to the grounds, to locate 

 the game, to discover and follow the trail or call the 

 game, to recover wounded animals, and to assist in 

 many ways on the journey and in camp. Few sports- 

 men can do all these things unattended. There are 

 many guides, who are capable, deserving, and agree- 

 able as companions, who can furnish references as to 

 their past performances. 



The sportsman who goes after elk or moose in the 

 Rocky Mountains more often travels with a pack-outfit, 

 and the guide knows how to put the packs on the ani- 

 mals so they will not come off. I was once travelling 

 on a narrow game-trail which ran up the side of a high 



* It would appear from this story that the moose is not absolutely monog- 

 amous. He is, however, nearly so. 



