376 TRAVEL, ADVENTURE, AND SPORT. 



unsuccessful search for more bear, we resolved to 

 begin our homeward journey, especially as by this 

 time the game in the shape of wapiti, deer, and 

 moose would be working down to the lower ranges. 

 I had several chances on the way back of shooting 

 more wapiti, but as I had by this time got three 

 heads as fine as any I was ever likely to get, I was 

 content to let the rest go. 



It must not be surmised from my account that our 

 ventures were always successful, far from it. It 

 was by no means an iincommon occurrence for us to 

 catch sight of some black object, apparently moving, 

 either high up a distant gulch-side or in a creek- 

 bottom. On many occasions, after a most difficult 

 stalk, we found we had approached a blackened 

 stump, and once even Avere confronted by the harm- 

 less porcupine : from his waddling gait and erect 

 bristles, he had assumed at a distance, in the bright 

 sunshine, a more imposing and bearlike appearance. 

 As we were working carefully another time through 

 some dense underwood, I suddenly saw a pair of 

 splendid horns rise up, about 150 yards ahead : Avhat 

 they belonged to I could not know for certain, but I 

 " took chances " by holding for where I imagined his 

 head to be. As soon as I pulled I was delighted to 

 see my mark drop where it stood. The brush was 

 so thick, and the fallen timber so high, that it was 

 some time before we got near enough to get a glimpse 

 of the apparently lifeless body of an enormous black- 



