142 BIG GAME SHOOTING 



that any even momentary check to the latter's nimble move- 

 ments, such as might be caused by a tree- spike catching in the 

 collar, may result in his being disabled or killed. I once, when 

 stalking, fired from the top of a high steep bank at an elk which 

 dropped to the shot and lay motionless. The hunter, who was 

 behind me, thinking the beast stone-dead, foolishly let go the 

 dog, who, with the harness on and the leader trailing, ran down 

 the bank, and when within a few yards of the deer was brought 

 up short by the leader becoming entangled in the branches of a 

 fallen tree. The elk at this moment revived, and was able to 

 rise so far as to squat on his haunches, but the hind quarters 

 being paralysed by a shot in the spine, he could not reach the 

 dog, otherwise he would most certainly have destroyed him, 

 unless I could have dropped him again with a second bullet ; 

 but one instant and one blow of the forefoot would have been 

 sufficient for the catastrophe. The hunter, who assured me he 

 had never done so foolish a thing before, was lucky in having 

 the possible result of his first folly brought home to him by so 

 forcible and harmless a lesson. 



From what has been said it will be clear that elk hunting 

 with the loose dog is a manly, noble sport, fitted in reality for 

 those who have youth, activity, and decided staying powers. 

 At the same time the race is not always to the swift ; experience, 

 cunning, and knowledge of country will effect a great deal, and 

 under certain conditions the elderly hunter may achieve some 

 success ; but if the elk really means running, he may as well 

 confess at once that he is not in it, and sit down and light his 

 pipe. But I strongly recommend him to turn his attention 

 solely to stalking with the leash-hound. He will find it scarcely 

 less exciting than the other branch of the sport, and quite 

 fatiguing enough, although it lacks that species of triumph, 

 so dear to Englishmen, which results from success attained by 

 very distressing physical exertion. The serious drawbacks to 

 loose-dog hunting are, first, the common necessity of killing 

 time in the forest — or, it may be, in a ' sseter ' or hay-house — 

 for some hours and in all weathers whilst the elk are lying 



