236 SPORTING ADVENTURES 



willows, which skirted the borders of streams. It was covered 

 with a luxuriant growth of herbage and wild flowers, and 

 looked as beautiful in the morning sun as any spot could 

 possibly be. It was the ideal of repose, yet its surnmndings 

 were full of activity and motion, and gentle picturesqueness 

 was contrasted with sublime grandeur. 



Always careful and cautious, the scout, who had gained his 

 experience by many a hard and dangerous lesson, would allow 

 no one to enter it until he had carefully reconnoitred it from 

 two or three directions, for fear any Indians might be lurking 

 there. While he and two others were out scouting, I surveyed 

 the valley with a field-glass from a commanding eminence, and 

 saw that large throngs of antelopes and numerous herds of elks 

 and deer were grazing over it, or playfully running about. 

 When the leader returned he stated that he could find no 

 indications anywhere of the presence of the red men, and that 

 it would, therefore, be safe to enter the place. As we wished 

 to get as much meat as we could in as short time as possible, 

 we concluded to run the elks, as they would afford us the best 

 sport and meat, and our chances of success were greater with 

 them than if we went after the smaller deer or the prong-horns. 



Moving forward slowly, we were soon to the leeward of 

 two herds of elks which were grazing on the outskirts of a 

 coppice, and when we got near enough to them to undertake 

 a dash with some assurances of success we charged them 

 boldly. That seemed to be the first time they had any 

 suspicion of our dangerous character; but when once assured 

 of it they broke away singly or in groups, and headed directly 

 up wind and across the valley. Each man singled out his 

 quarry, and in a short time the hills and mountains were 

 echoing with the reports of rifles and revolvers. I selected a 

 burly stag that had magnificent antlers, and in a run of less 

 than half a mile was near enough to cause him to break his 

 trot, and fall into a fast, ungainly gallop. Knowing that he 

 could not keep that pace very long, I urged my horse forward at 

 his best speed, and kept him at it until the quarry resumed the 

 long and rapid trot for which its family is noted. The ground 

 being good, T had every advantage over the fugitive, as my horse 



