186 SHORT STALKS 



to be allowed to go. As I quietly followed, I presently 

 discovered that they had overrun the track of the beast in 

 their haste. The Litter had turned short off to the riMit 

 towards the lake. As I looked in that direction I perceived, 

 about thirty yards off, a grand pair of horns showiug above 

 the trunk of a fallen tree. At the same moment the elk 

 must have discovered my presence, or noticed that he was 

 discovered, and sprang to his legs, showing me a broadside 

 of the kirgest dimensions. AVithout pausing he plunged 

 down the betangied slope and disappeared. A minute 

 or two Liter the party of pursuit, having perceived their 

 mistake, returned in hot haste, and I led them on to the 

 true line, Down through trunks, rotting trees, roots and 

 stones they stumbled and ran, for there was no time to 

 lose. If the animal should gain the lake he would certainly 

 cross it. They had scarcely left me when I thought Don 

 might stop him before he took the water, so I let the old 

 dog have his pleasure. Away he went like a streak of 

 lightning, and presently I heard him and the two elk 

 hounds lift up their voices, and a few minutes later a 

 double shot. Scrambling down the encumbered slope I 



emerged on the shore of the lake. C and the two 



men were sitting on a fallen tree, all three blowing like 

 whales. The elk lay about thirty yards from the shore, 

 submerged, all but one of his sides and part of a horn. On 

 this island the three doo-s were standino- and makino; the 

 hair tlv rioht and left, while now and aoain one or other 

 got pushed off into the water and scrambled up again. 

 Tiring of this at length they sat down side by side 

 facing me, and occasionally grinning a growl at each 

 other, for the space was too limited for a fight. Nothing 



