TTTF TIOCKV ^rOTXTAlXS 111 



afterwards aiiotlicr animal witli a iiuicli deeper and more 

 sonorous voice opened on llie left. Then l)egaii a very 

 lively tri(\ wliieh we kept u]) in the liope of dl•awil)^• tlic 

 bio- one from his cover, for 1 was sure, from the \ohime of 

 the note and the unwilliiioness of the tirst elk to approach 

 him. that this was the boss. But he wouldn't show, and 

 iNIahomet had to go to the mouiii;iiii. 



Marking the position of the sound as well as 1 could, 

 I di\-e(l into the timl)er. When [ had gone as far as 1 

 chired, 1 sal down, for fear of jumping him, and gave a low 

 whistle. The hull came straight towards me Rns])iciously, 

 and without uttering a sound, and keeping himself so 

 much under cover that I could not see him i>lainly. He 

 stopped about twenty yards off, but completely hidden, 

 and, after a pause, calndy turned tail and walked slowdy 

 away without once giving a chance. Another cautious 

 whistle must have stopped him, for when, a few minutes 

 later, I followed, in spite of every precaution 1 jumped 

 him from boliind a otoui) of vouns; trees, and thou^'h a 

 snap shot at the yellow mark on his stern ([uickened his 

 trot, he got off with a whole skin. It was rather a bad 

 miss, but it was better so, for if I had hit him I mioht 

 have lost him, and I ]i;id seen enough of his points to be 

 keenly disappointed and to long for a nearer accpiaintance. 

 Dick, who of course had a clear \ iew ol' him while 1 was 

 away, said he was an " ohl time l»ull, " so I determined to 

 lie low for him. T.ut I was too impatient. ;iud bognn 

 badly, overrating my woodcraft. Dismissing J.)ick to take 

 tlie horses back to camp, I followed the elk's track on foot. 

 He appeared to l)e accompanied l)y a single hind only. 

 Several times I heard his now familiar note, but I never 



