ELK LAND. 



20 I 



New York; so we'll head for the high life 

 summer resorts." 



My wife and I, accompanied by Dave 

 Roberts, an experienced hand, set out to- 

 gether. First we rode up to a favorite wa- 

 tering place, the "Nymph Spring." No! 



AT 40 YARDS. 



not high enough. We tried Calcite Springs 

 and Lohe. No! another 1,000 feet needed. 

 And we took the elevator once more, com- 

 ing to a high, upland plateau over Tower 

 creek. Then, looking around, we saw 3 

 antelope. It was like a jeer. They seemed 

 to say,- 



" You ain't high at all. You are away 

 down on the plains, among the antelope." 



So we kept on, and at last struck a great 

 multiplex track. This led us into a wood, 

 and we came, finally, on a band of cow elk 

 — the lowest of the 3 social grades. 



They were lying down, and I had time 



to make a few sketches, at 40 yards. And 

 here let me remark that my sketches are 

 not photos. They are impressions; and 

 with the help of a little imagination (you 

 have one, I suppose) they will suggest 

 pictures — maybe. 



Well, I sketched away at the elk, and 

 made notes that were useful — to me at least 

 — when suddenly the wind changed. They 

 must have smelt us, for they ran. The 

 dozen we had seen became scores. The 

 alarm spread, and away they went, leaping, 

 and crashing through the woods, till the 

 sound was like that of a tornado; and they 

 passed from our sight. 



This was the first time either of us had 

 seen a wild elk. It was also one of the 

 times when we had no camera; but we 

 shall soon go elking again, and shall go 

 fully armed. Don't mention this to the 



AT 50 YARDS. 



Park authorities, and you shall have some 

 of the results, whether or no. 



Here are some elk signs, for an appro- 

 priate tail piece. 



1. Winter ; chiefly of bark. 



ELK DROPPINGS. 



2 and 3. Spring ; bark and grass mixed. 

 5. Summer ; wholly grass, 



4. Summer ; chiefly grass. 



