47 



knee at the edge of the cover, a position in which he could 

 shoot very well, for he used to make a rest for his rifle, 

 by sticking his ramrod and loading-stick firmly into the 

 ground across each other ; I, who never could shoot well 

 from a rest, preferred to stand up. We were now about 

 one hundred and fifty yards from the nearest of the band. 

 I chose a fine old stag, while Boucharville, with an eye 

 to superior meat, singled out a doe. We drew up our 

 rifles slowly, and both shots went off together. The smoke 

 hung heavily for a second or two ; when it cleared away, 

 we espied one of the wapiti lying down. The next in- 

 stant down rolled the stag also. We agreed to advance 

 at the same moment lest one or other of the animals 

 should be able to get up and escape. On coming near 

 my stag, he struggled to rise, but unable to gain his feet 

 rolled back again. I looked towards the other, when 

 what was my surprise at witnessing a regular combat be- 

 tween Boucharville and his wounded elk, now transformed 

 into a very formidable antagonist. Springing on her 

 haunches, she was striking furiously at him with her 

 fore^feet ; one hoof missed him, but the other fell on his 

 rifle, which he held up for his protection, and smashing 

 both his ramrod and his loading-stick, beating him down 

 on his knees. Rising a second time, she was about to 

 repeat the attack, when my bullet caught her in the side 

 of the head behind the eye, and with a splendid bound 



