ELK-HUNTING IN THE OLYMPIC MOUNTAINS. 61 



one of the whole outfit. Then, as the smoke of your pipe 

 curls slowly upward, you will relate, in measured cadences, 

 the story of the Wapiti that fell victims to your skill 

 in the odorous forest green; and, as you close, you point to 

 the halo of light that reddens in the evening sky from the 

 great cedar, and say: "Now to rest, for to-morrow at day- 

 break we must go forth and bring in the meat and heads." 

 Your friends do not retire, however, till near morning; and, 

 as they tarry by the camp-fire, oft and again is heard the siz- 

 zling of steaks over the coals. Long will the flavor of those 

 juicy steaks be remembered, for there is no animal that 

 runs on legs whose flesh is so dainty, so tender, and so 

 nutritious as that of the Wapiti. 



Mr. L. L. Bales, an old-time hunting companion, sends 

 me the following description of an Elk-hunt in Sultan 

 Basin, Washington: 



" It was on the first day of June, 1887, that my compan- 

 ion and self arrived at the Horseshoe Bend mining-camp. 

 We were surprised to find a good log house, well supplied 

 with 'grub,' and all the mining-tools necessary to run a 

 hydraulic mine, where we expected to find nothing but 

 a 'lean-to.' We were- on a cruising expedition for the 

 purpose of locating hunting and trapping grounds for 

 the ensuing season. After a short consultation, we con- 

 cluded to send our pack-animals back to the Skikomish 

 River, and make the camp our headquarters for the next 

 month. 



' ' We were puzzled over the appearance of everything in 

 and about the camp. It looked as though the occupants 

 had left but yesterday; but from knowledge we had gained 

 in the settlements, and from a few lines written on a piece 

 of paper and tacked on the door, we learned that the last 

 occupant had left just six months before; also that we were 

 welcome to the use of the house, but were cautioned to be 

 careful of fire. With this understanding, we pulled the 

 latch-string and walked in, when a wild-looking house-cat 

 rushed oat. 



