26 o 
WILD BEASTS AND THEIR WA YS 
CHAP. 
biggest. I heard the usual well-known sound of the 
•557 bullet; but the deer did not drop. 
“He’s got it all right,” exclaimed Jem. “He’ll 
drop directly.” 
I was of the same opinion, but all three stags 
continued to canter along as though unharmed down 
a gentle slope, jumping over the prostrate stems of 
fallen spruce, as though enjoying their power of 
active movement. At length they disappeared in 
a dark hollow about 200 yards distant, where some 
spruce firs grew in the depression of a stream 
bed. 
On the other side of this depression was a small 
open slope of grass ; this was bordered by the main 
forest. I had of course reloaded, but I could not 
understand the possibility of the wapiti having 
retreated to such a distance with the *577 solid 
bullet in his shoulder. 
I had now raised the back-sight for 250 yards in 
the expectation of seeing the three wapiti emerge 
from the hollow, and appear upon the clear open 
space before they could reach the forest. Although 
it would be a long shot, it would be absolutely 
necessary to stop the wounded animal, otherwise in 
all probability we should never see it again. 
Presently a pair of spreading antlers appeared, 
as a fine stag slowly walked up the steep incline, 
and appeared upon the open slope. I raised the 
rifle to my shoulder. “ That’s not the one,” said 
Jem. “I know that; hold your tongue,” I replied, 
still keeping in readiness. Another stag appeared. 
