178 BIG GAME FIELDS 



thing 1 in darkness. Nothing but the doleful hoot 

 of an owl broke the stillness of the night. At 

 last the moon rose over the peak tops and flooded 

 the canon with its light of simmering moon- 

 beams. A long-drawn-out wail floated down the 

 canon and died away. Some lone gray wolf 

 howling his serenade to the moon. I was strain- 

 ing my eyes in all directions, and listening for 

 the slightest sound, lest the cunning cougar, with 

 velvet tread, would steal up, take in the situation 

 and slink away unnoticed. Presently I heard a 

 slight noise to my right, and upon looking saw a 

 little skunk run by, almost within arm's reach. 

 He stopped at the carcass and commenced his 

 evening meal. A few minutes lapsed and I saw 

 the skunk hurrying away, as if disturbed by some 

 unseen object. Almost directly in front, and 

 some forty yards away, was a boulder about ten 

 feet in diameter. The queer action of the skunk 

 made me all the more alert, and looking carefully 

 I made out a form, crouching low, just over the 

 boulder in front. With all my caution this ani- 

 mal had stolen up while I was unaware. I 

 glanced for a moment to be sure, when the form 

 disappeared behind the boulder as mysteriously 

 and as silently as it had appeared. I felt that I 

 had been outwitted, when out from behind the 



