HUNTING IN THE SELK'IRKS. 175 



control of a master bull, which wages repeated 

 and furious battles for his harem ; and in their 

 ways of life they resemble the wapiti more 

 than they do the moose or deer. They 

 sometimes display a curious boldness, the 

 bulls especially showing both stupidity and 

 pugnacity when in districts to which men 

 rarely penetrate. 



On our way out of the woods, after this 

 hunt, there was a slight warm spell, followed 

 by rain and then by freezing weather, so as to 

 bring about what is known as a silver thaw. 

 Every twig was sheathed in glittering ice, and 

 in the moonlight the forest gleamed as if 

 carved out of frosted silver. 



