The fiercest and most interesting combat I ever witnessed between wild 
animals was a struggle between two male elk for the leadership of a herd. 
The challenger was a fine bull weighing about a thousand pounds. He 
had been roaming solitary and suddenly had come upon a herd at the head 
of which was a bull almost his equal in weight and beauty. 
As he approached the herd, or harem, as it is called sometimes, the 
challenger blew a loud whistle of defiance. If the reader will take a half¬ 
pint bottle and blow strongly into it, a similar sound will be produced. This 
whistle was at once answered by the ruler of the herd, who stepped boldly 
forth to do battle with the intruder. With heads lowered between their fore¬ 
feet, the two adversaries walked around waiting for an opening. The leader 
of the herd was the first to be thrown off his guard, and the other made a 
savage fush at him. The leader instantly recovered, and countered the 
charge. As they rushed together their antlers struck with such terrific force 
that the report could be heard half a mile away. Then they slowly retreated, 
bellowing, grumbling, and grinding their teeth in a paroxysm of rage. 
Again they circled around and when an opportunity offered again they 
dashed. This continued for some time, and I noticed that the leader of the 
herd was growing weaker at each successive encounter. He was now fight¬ 
ing on the defensive, while the intruding elk kept up his aggressive charges. 
At last the leader of the herd could no longer meet the assaults of his 
81 
THE STORY OF THE 
ELK 
