NORTHERN GAME TRAILS 327 



in that uncanny stillness. After a short interval 

 came the savage gruntings, as of some large ani- 

 mal; more breaking of brush, a strange trampling 

 sound, a snort, and then the sound of a fearful 

 impact with a dull thud. 



With pounding pulses we at last peered over 

 the thin gray point and the splendor of that 

 scene bit deep into my memory. Two giant bulls 

 had met in mortal combat and with lowered heads, 

 brow to brow, were heaving all their great bulk, 

 one to force back the other, and victory seemed 

 to hang exactly in the balance. Now, as I looked, 

 a little stream of scarlet was spurting from the 

 neck of the somewhat smaller bull; slowly he 

 seemed to be weakening. Then I was suddenly 

 startled at the rather unusual sound of Mac's 

 voice, saying: "Why you no shoot?" It sud- 

 denly dawned on me that I had simply forgotten 

 to do so. Then Mac added, "You kill him beeg 

 one before he make other too sick." 



At the report of the rifle a cow that had been 

 idly looking on from the opposite shore, trotted 

 off into the woods. The two bulls disengaged 

 themselves and the larger stood as if glued to the 

 spot. The other walked unsteadily to the water's 

 edge, paused to look back, then sank into the cold 

 waters, swam to the other side, shook his coat 



