186 SPORT AND TRAVEL PAPERS 



very large bull. It was terrible walking ; there had been exten- 

 sive windfalls and plentiful indeed were the trees we had to 

 climb over, and then those alder swamps ! They were fearfully 

 trying and tiring to get through. After a good deal of walking 

 we once more heard the welcome sound of antlers rubbing 

 against the bushes, and presently saw a bull looking in our 

 direction and swaying his huge horns from side to side. I fired 

 and hit him, but off he started at his best pace, clearing in a 

 marvellous manner every obstacle in the way, as we afterwards 

 saw to our astonishment and regret. We followed the blood 

 spoor for some distance, but it became slighter and slighter and 

 a very heavy thunderstorm washed it out entirely. That walk I 

 shall never forget ; the Indian followed the spoor as fast as was 

 possible and I had to follow him, over and under fallen trees, 

 up-hill and down-hill, through swamps and alder bush, until, as 

 the chase already seemed hopeless, I was very glad when my 

 companion at last gave it up. It is sincerely to be hoped that 

 the bullet inflicted a skin wound only from which the bull has 

 long since recovered. We returned to camp in pouring rain 

 drenched to the skin. 



A long journey by a different route to that which had brought 

 us, yet differing but slightly from it as far as the weather 

 was concerned, ended our enjoyable and most successful visit 

 to the largest representative of the deer tribe in his native 

 haunts. 



