NEAR MIDDLE RIDGE. 119 



sight, and we were able to enjoy it at no greater distance 

 than one hundred and fifty yards. The does seemed to 

 take a very lukewarm interest in the fight ; some of 

 them went on feeding with indifference, and two or 

 three strayed off towards the other two stags, who 

 maintained a pointedly detached position afar. Wyn- 

 yard and I wanted to bet on the result of the battle* 

 but as both of us fancied the chances of the same stag 

 the idea fell through. 



The old stag, on whose antlers I thought I could 

 make out twenty-one points, was a very heavy animal, 

 exceedingly light in colour, while his opponent was 

 markedly darker and certainly possessed the finer head. 

 At length, after a protracted period of straining, for in 

 the contest, which resembled a wrestle rather than a 

 fight, there were no rushes, but rather a careful locking 

 of the antlers, followed by a strenuous shoving match, 

 the old stag seemed to get his horns against the fore- 

 head of his rival and began to bear him back. Then 

 suddenly the battle was over, Big Bays gave way, 

 leaped clear, the old stag made one violent pass at his 

 enemy's flank and missed, and then Big Bays was in 

 full retreat. The old stag stood for a moment rejoicing 

 in his victory, then, possibly feeling that order must be 

 restored, he rounded up his harem and passed away 

 across the hilltop. The whole incident was one we 

 were delighted to have seen. Both of us were struck 

 by the lack of agility displayed by the stags, the battle 

 being, as I have said, purely a shoving match. 



Each time the stags engaged, however, the antlers 

 clashed together, producing a loud sound. It seemed 

 as though the massive caribou heads are difficult weapons 

 to manipulate, and I can very well understand that a 



