American Big-Game Hunting 



burnt timber, I was stopped by a very loud 

 whistle close in front; and, on creeping up, 

 saw on the far edgre of the clearinor three 

 bulls standing. They were between me and 

 camp, and not two hundred yards away. 

 They seemed to hear or see me, but stood 

 perfectly still, probably mistaking me in the 

 dusk for one of their number. One was a 

 big fellow, I could see, as he stood out 

 against the sky. What horns he had ! The 

 failing light made him seem gigantic. I 

 crawled on till within easy range, and still he 

 never moved. He was standing breast on, 

 apparently watching me. Aiming for where 

 his great shaggy throat joined his broad 

 breast I fired. The rifle blazed out in the 

 dusk ; the elk gave a bound, and turned 

 his quarter toward me ; the other two 

 dashed off into the woods. Again I fired; 

 this time for his shoulder. The flash of the 

 rifle half blinded me for an instant, but I 

 could see that he was down. I started for 

 him at a run. Up he got, and went lurching 

 heavily down hill toward camp. I was now 

 quite close to him, and fired once more. 

 Again he fell, but, the slope aiding him, he 



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