204 CAMP FIRE REMINISCENCES 
rocks for half a mile we descended a ridge until we 
reached some heavy pines on the steep side of a 
gluch. Entering this I saw, certainly not more 
than fifty yards away, a pair of magnificent antlers 
rising apparently from the ground. The head was 
almost completely hidden by a big stump—the 
wapiti was looking at the guide, who was a few 
yards away on my left. Iwas perfectly sure of the 
deer and waited for him to stand up, this, however, 
he did not do, but pushed himself off down the hill 
without giving me a shot at all. Only a sportsman 
can understand the effect of this sort of luck upon 
one’s temper. The deer had been lying down be- 
hind a big tree at the edge of a steep place; the 
moment he slid over that edge he was out of sight. 
It was too provoking. 
As we were a long way from camp, we returned 
to the horses and led them down to the plateau 
below. Crossing this we reached the bare steep 
place leading down to the little creek. The creek 
was fringed with timber and running through this 
we saw a splendid bull, but before a shot was pos- 
sible he had entered a clump of pines. I ran along 
the plateau to catch him coming out at the other 
side, but he did not come. Examining the timber 
closely, we made out the grey shoulder of an elk 
standing among the trees. JFeeling sure that it 
was the big stag I had seen, I fired, and he fell. We 
climbed down and our disappointment was great 
to find that a spike bull was my reward. We had 
had a lot of excitement, so removing the head — 
and scalp, we cut up the deer and lashing its quar- ~ 
