A PERSISTENT HUNTER. 203 



timber the hunter caught a glimpse of his quarry 

 just as it was disappearing among the trees. 

 A quick shot was sent after it and then it was lost 

 to view. Hastening to the spot, he found the 

 tracks and soon saw spots of blood. Following 

 these about three hundred yards he came upon !the 

 animal, lying down. Its expression was any- 

 thing but mild, and to avoid accidents the hunter 

 sent another ball into it, killing it instantly. It 

 was a fine two-year-old male and was just what 

 was needed to complete the collection. It was now 

 raining hard, and after two hours spent in taking 

 notes and measurements and skinning the animal, 

 Dyche threw the skin across his shoulders as a pro- 

 tection from the rain and started for camp. It was 

 almost dark and the distance was long, but the hunters 

 were to move the next day and it would not do to leave 

 the specimen on the mountain. He staggered along 

 and finally reached camp with his precious load. 

 His knees were in a fearful condition, but he rubbed 

 them until they felt better, and then spent several 

 hours preparing his specimens for packing. 



The horses had had a long rest, but were in bad 

 condition from lack of proper food, and it was a hard 

 trip over the mountains to Thorp's ranch, which was 

 finally reached with as fine a lot of specimens as was 

 ever carried out of the country. 



