IN THE FAR WEST. 217 



hour or more, found I had been wandering about in circles, 

 which sometimes crossed each other, and had a general trend 

 to the right. 



I knew then that I was really lost, and had acted as nearly 

 all persons do under the same circumstances; but as I had 

 daylight to aid me I did not feel any great sense of alarm, 

 and went about retracing my footsteps in the calmest manner. 

 I first commenced to beat about in order to discover tracks 

 that did not trend to the right, and after a long search I saw 

 some that evidently led to the glade in which I first missed 

 my bearings. This was a most welcome discovery, as I felt 

 that I could not be far away from camp, so I commenced 

 retracing them at a rapid rate. This was not a very difficult 

 matter, for by scanning the ground a little in advance 

 with a quick glance, I could see by the trampled grass and 

 bushes, the lightness of the dew in some places, and an occa- 

 sional distinctly marked footprint, the route I had taken. 



"While deeply engaged in this pleasant duty I was startled 

 by hearing a thundering crashing a short distance to my left, 

 and on looking in that direction I saw the cause of my woe, 

 the wounded bull, hopping away on three legs through the 

 undergrowth. Forgetting everything but his presence in a 

 moment, I started after him, and in less than twenty minutes 

 headed him off, by taking short cuts, and as he passed by me 

 within a distance of seventy yards I fired at his head, and he 

 fell on his antlers. When I approached him he was shaking 

 his head violently, and roaring and grunting as if he were in 

 the greatest agony. Supposing that I had hit him in some 

 vital part, and not earing to fire another shot unless it was 

 actually necessary, I advanced towards him heedlessly, but on 

 reaching within a few yards of him I halted, as his tongue was 

 out and his eyes fairly blazed with rage and hate. "While 

 looking at him, he bounded suddenly on his legs, and charged 

 me with the greatest impetuosity; but, though surprised, I 

 did not wait the onslaught, but dodged behind a large tree, 

 and ere he could bear down on me I had reloaded my rifle and 

 given him its contents directly through one of his huge ears, 

 with a result most fatal to him, for he fell dead in his tracks. 



