TIIH ROCKY .MOUNTAINS 8r. 



The stalk had been successful. The monarcli was laid low. 

 Witli all the exultation orNoutli ;il a lirst successful sIk.I, 

 he had carefully laid down his rillc to gloat, with the more 

 freedom, over its grain! |iroportioiis, and, counting the 

 points, he drew his knife in orthodox fashion, and leant 

 over the fallen tree against which the elk lay Uj cut its 

 throat. But at the first touch of the knife the animal rose 

 slowly to his feet, made a lunge at his enemy, A\liicli must 

 have had serious consequences it' it lind not l»een for the 

 liarricade between them, and made otl". Fancy the cruel 

 revulsion from triumph to despair when it was realised that 

 the ritle was ten yards away and unloaded ! Of course 

 w hen Dick came up an attempt was made to track him, 

 but in vain. The poor beast had been shot too high and 

 had L;one off to die elsewhere, or perlnips not to di(^ at all. 

 l''ortune, however, took [)ity on llic young hunter, ami 

 allowed him another bull on the wa\' liome, which he easily 

 stalked and killed. So at supper that night wc were not 

 despondent. 



As camp was now well sup[»lied witli meat, we de- 

 termined lor the present to do no more hunting, but to 

 proceed on our journey. In two days we arrived at 

 Clarke's. This was the firthest ranehe on this side of the 

 Main l>i\Idc. from the top of which it is distant i>iil\' a 

 three hours' ride. Indeed it was then the onl\- abode 

 beyond AVashakie inhabited all the \'ear round. To call 

 it a ranehe is fiatterv, for it consists of a sinole \o<x room. 

 Here old Clarke had led a comi»letely solitary existence for 

 seven years, and yet he was no misanthrope. He gave us 

 a most hospitable welcome, and ])rovcd a genial host, with 

 more information, and mon- ability to impart it, than is 



