The Wapiti, or Round-horned Elk 



Towards morning I was awakened by 

 hearing a bull challenge not very far 

 from camp. The sound of the challenge 

 kept coming nearer and nearer, and 

 finally I heard one of the horses snort 

 loudly in response ; evidently the elk saw 

 them, and, not making out exactly what 

 they were, was coming down to join them. 

 Sometimes horses will stampede when 

 thus approached; but our ponies were 

 veterans, and were very tired, and evi- 

 dently had no intention of leaving their 

 good pasture. 



Sitting up in my blankets, I could tell 

 from the sound that they were still in the 

 park, and then the challenge of the bull 

 came pealing up not three hundred yards 

 from the tent. This was more than I 

 could stand, and I jumped up and put on 

 my shoes and jacket. The moon was 

 bright, but shooting by moonlight is very 

 deceptive, and I doubt whether I would 

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