130 THE BEST OF THE FUN 



upward to the divide, then descending by open and rocky 

 ground beyond to the wood-girt creek flowing eastward 

 for the Atlantic, whereas the water from which this morn- 

 ing's coffee had been brewed came from a strea n whose 

 eventual destiny is the Pacific. 



Even at this hour the big buck that haunt this lofty 

 divide were still feeding on the open hillside, gathered in 

 bunches, with a view, no doubt, to the autumn migration to 

 lower grounds. I had not wished to fire, even for a good 

 head, so early in the day, as our nominal quest was elk, 

 and we had many a mile's ride before us. But it was 

 exciting to see six great antlered fellows trotting across the 

 open, then no less than ten together ; and so when four 

 more stood broadside on and within distance, I could not 

 help drawing bead on the biggest as I sat in the saddle. 

 I missed my shot clean, a feat, I notice, that is seldom 

 admitted in copy on shooting. Excuse, if it be any, 

 was soon forthcoming in the discovery that I had, in a 

 moment of mental distraction just before, caused by the 

 appearance of the ten buck together, raised my sight to 

 300 yards, and left it there when I fired at about 150. 



Vexed at this, I determined on a head as soon as 

 obtainable ; and when, about half-an-hour afterwards. Mat 

 pointed out a good pair of antlers facing us at about 

 80 yards among the aspen trees, I pulled myself together 

 and planted a -450 bullet fair in the chest, my horse 

 standing motionless to the shot. I was to-day, fortunately 

 as it turned out, mounted upon a larger and more gallop- 

 ing animal than my usual Indian pony. The buck's head 

 removed, it was left to be picked up on the way back, the 

 meat to be fetched by " the boys " next morning. 



Countless deer were working their way through the 

 timber by the riverside, and many big buck were roused 

 as we rode over the wooded heights beyond. The whole 

 country, indeed, was that day like nothing but a well- 

 furnished deer park. 



But for elk-sign we sought in vain ; so about midday, 

 after the usual halt and pleasant smoke, worked our way 

 back by a wide horse-shoe route towards the morning 

 kill, the deer passing us by scores as we rode, their course 



