80 PRAIRIE AND FOREST. 



possess the utmost indifference to man's presence, so 

 that even after being wounded they would scarcely 

 move above a few yards from the place where they 

 had been stricken. In fact, under such circumstances, 

 they appear to get confused and afraid to flee, lest the 

 herd should become separated and broken up. On 

 such occasions as these the Indians make great havoc 

 among them ; for it is a peculiarity of this race that 

 they never cease from slaughter while a survivor 

 remains within their reach. One would imagine that 

 experience would teach them otherwise, for there is 

 scarcely a year that these aborigines are not reduced 

 to the most desperate straits from famine ; but their 

 improvidence is inherent, and to the end of time they 

 will practise the adage, " Sufficient is the evil for the 

 day thereof." 



I cannot leave the Wapitti deer without recording 

 one of the numerous adventures that occurred to me 

 while a resident in the region that they inhabit. As 

 a rule my contretemps in their pursuit, were not very 

 exciting, for they are a large animal, and as I have 

 previously said, far from as wary as many smaller 

 species of the genus ; thus if the first barrel had not 

 effectually done its work of destruction the second 

 seldom failed, for it was a rare occurrence for me to 

 draw trigger till within fifty yards. 



I had met in one of the sequestered valleys of the 

 Rocky Mountains, from whence a tributary of the 

 Yellowstone flowed, a couple of wanderers. Two more 

 objectionable beings it would be difficult to find. The 

 veriest off-scourings of a jail could not excel them in 

 villany and repulsiveness of appearance. Still they 

 were white men, and as such were welcomed as 



