ELK HUNTING 
my great delight he turned completely over like a shot rabbit, and, roaring 
and moaning, fell headlong some twenty feet down the hill. Kristian was 
now simply wild with excitement and mad to go on, so I sat down and 
opened the vials of my wrath upon him for firing just as I was actually 
pressing the trigger of my own rifle. After changing rifles and giving 
the bear five minutes’ grace to feel the effect of his wounds, we com- 
menced the descent of the hill, which was here of the steepest and roughest 
description. 
At first I thought we should find him at once, for he had slipped, slid 
and rolled badly during the first 200 yards; but his vitality was quite 
amazing. Though the great jumble of moss and logs through which we 
passed was everywhere stained with his blood, the further we went the 
further off he seemed to be, and we had nearly broken our legs half a dozen 
times ere we emerged upon the open swamp at the foot of the hill. 
Up to this point I had walked in front, as the track was easy to follow, 
and I held the more powerful rifle in case of need, but now the ground 
became harder and drier and the spoor very difficult to make out; so 
“ Bismark ” was brought to the front and invited to help us. To my 
intense disappointment, however, he showed signs of uneasiness and 
absolutely refused to have anything to do with the business. Kristian then 
took the dog in hand, showing his thorough knowledge of dog character. 
For ten minutes he talked gently to Bismark, he cajoled, he flattered, 
he caressed, he bamboozled, and finally succeeded in awakening a 
lively interest where formerly there was none at all, making the dog 
understand that here was an animal which he certainly had never seen 
before, but which, nevertheless, his master earnestly desired him to 
follow. It was a really fine performance on the hunter’s part. The elk-hound 
presently began to snuff the tracks, and led us along slowly — oh ! so slowly 
-—all the time with his ears back and occasional backward glances at his 
master, as much as to say, “ Well, I am doing this under protest, and if I 
didn’t love you very much, I would not do it at all.” 
By and by he began to cock his ears (a good sign) and the pace increased 
to a fast walk. We were picking up the broken thread again, and everything 
was going on swimmingly when we suddenly came on a fresh cow-elk 
track, whereupon Bismark woke up and immediately rushed along it, 
only to be immediately switched off by his master. He just gave us one 
look, as much as to say, “Well, of all the idiots — ■” and grumpily resumed 
the bear spoor. 
267 
