296 CAMP-FIRES OF A NATURALIST. 



they went through the park at full speed. Jim began 

 shooting at the fleeing elk as fast as he could work 

 the lever of his Marlin. Dyche could see nothing, 

 and in trying to get around the log where the way 

 would be clear, he lost considerable time. Jim went 

 on the run through the woods and Dyche followed, 

 reaching the edge of the timber just in time to see 

 the band disappearing at the lower end of the ra- 

 vine. Jim was running at full speed down the ridge 

 to the right of the ravine and Dyche went on the 

 one to the left. After the first alarm the elk bunched 

 and were running together in a compact mass. Into 

 this bunch Jim now began shooting at a distance of 

 only fifty yards. He worked his gun as rapidly as 

 possible and poured balls into the band like leaden 

 rain. 



Dyche carefully surveyed the band and singled out 

 a bull which appeared to be much larger than any of 

 the others. Towards this animal he turned his at- 

 tention, shooting at it until it left the band and went 

 into the woods alone. The band had now gone 

 around the hill on which Jim was standing, and 

 Dyche heard more shooting and then all was still. 



" Prof, why ain't you shoo tin' ?" shouted the excited 

 mountaineer. 



The naturalist was disgusted and mortified and yet 

 amused at the way the hunt had ended. Only one 

 elk was needed and that one must be a monster, but 

 Jim had been indiscriminately slaughtering the ani- 

 mals at short range, when there was no possible way 

 of utilising the flesh. 



Dyche now hurried across to the place where Jim 



