THE LONE BULL OF SANDY LAKE 239 



When we gathered around the fallen prize each of 

 us said he would likely never again see his equal in 

 size, shape and bulk. We opened and dressed him as 

 quickly as possible ; and following the shore back to 

 the boat again, we reached the Sandy Lake cabin at a 

 quarter past eight. Fire was made without delay, a 

 pot of soup boiled and eaten, and with much talk over 

 the recent excitement we lay down to rest. 



I say to rest for my mind was so full, with its re- 

 hearsal of the run up the ridge and through the woods ; 

 of the fall head over heels from a log down an incline 

 and into some brush at the bottom of a deep depres- 

 sion; of a stumble from striking a root with the 

 right foot and going face and head into the spongy 

 mass ; of the rapid shooting and of the search for the 

 very last cartridge, and, finally, of the result of the 

 successful shot, that " sleep, blessed sleep " was not for 

 me until the early morning hours had long been passed. 



The following morning we went over and skinned 

 the bull and took some measurements. His antlers 

 had a spread of thirty-eight inches ; the longest prong 

 measured forty inches from tip to head, inside measure- 

 ment, and forty-two inches outside. 



After the hide was removed his bare neck measured 

 forty-six inches ; and some idea may be obtained of his 

 bulk when it is known that the fat which lay upon his 

 back and sides measured by the tape line two and a half 

 inches in thickness. 



