branch, then some light thuds along the 
ground, and to the left of us out of the 
dark forest, a dainty creature flitted 
along the trail and playfully splashed 
into the water. Six others of her sis- 
ters followed her, with two little ones, 
and they were all splashing about in 
the water like so many sportive mer- 
maids when their lordly master ap- 
peared—a fine bull elk who seemed to 
me, as he sedately approached the edge 
of the lake, to be nothing but horns. 
I shall never forget the picture of this 
family at home—the quiet lake encir- 
cled by forest and towered over by 
mountains; the gentle graceful crea- 
tures full of life playing about in the 
water, now drinking, now splashing it 
in cooling showers upon one another; 
the solicitude of a mother that her | 
young one should come to no harm; 
“oo mamozm\z>20¢ > B58 
eke Os 
