158 MY SPORTING HOLIDAYS 



We had turned homewards toward camp in the 

 bend of a wide circuit, and were ascending from the 

 lower ground up a steep valley, when my eye caught 

 sight of what looked like a fine pair of branching 

 horns sticking out of a marshy flat some 200 yards 

 ahead. I was riding behind Frank, and gave a low 

 whistle to attract his attention. At that instant the 

 antlers turned slowly round, and I became aware that 

 nothing less than a good bull elk was lying there. 

 The next moment seven great tawny-red deer, each 

 carrying a more or less splendid head, rose majes- 

 tically from their couches in the marsh, gazed for a 

 moment on the intruders on their privacy, and then 

 proceeded somewhat leisurely up the steep hillside in 

 full view. We had disturbed a company of old masters 

 in their chaste August retirement. 



The events of the next few moments will never 

 fade from my memory. I sprang hastily from the 

 saddle, ran a few steps up the hill for a better view, 

 and, as Frank subsequently explained to the boys 

 in camp, pumped lead for all I was worth from a 

 double '500 express rifle at the seven great bull elk 

 slowly making up the hill. The range was about 

 200 yards, and I was lucky enough to put a bullet 

 through one of the biggest of the bulls the first 

 shot. He did not fall at once, but stood. The rest 

 remained with him for a few moments, and thus 

 enabled me, with the expenditure of several car- 

 tridges, to get two more bulls before they made off. 

 One of these two, I remember, happened to be struck 

 in the neck, and fell dead at the shot and roDed over 

 down the hill like a gigantic rabbit. The other two 

 stood in articulo mortis until I rode up and finished 

 them. 



