XXIV 
THE WAPITI 
261 
“That’s not the one, either,” exclaimed irrepressible 
Jem. Both these fine beasts entered the forest, and 
disappeared. I lowered my rifle. “ He’s lying dead 
in the hollow,” continued Jem. 
I began to think this was the case, but presently 
a grand pair of antlers appeared, followed by the 
stag, which slowly rose from the depression, 
passed through the fringe of spruce trees upon the 
slope, and emerged upon the open ground, over 
which it slowly walked, almost in the tracks of those 
which had preceded it. 
I took a very steady aim, and fired. The great 
stag reeled and fell, just as the sound of the bullet 
upon impact returned to our ears. 
“Well done! he’s got it this time; that’s a 
fine rifle and no mistake,” exclaimed Jem, who 
immediately ran forward towards the distant prize. 
I followed slowly; as I stepped the distance, it 
was 240 long paces to the bottom of the hollow. I 
could not measure the steep slope, as I had to 
scramble up the bank, but taking the direct line of 
the bullet’s flight it was about 250 yards. 
We now examined the wapiti. This was 
indeed a prize. We knew that the first shot should 
have struck the left side, likewise the last shot; 
but there was only one bullet-wound; this was 
through the centre of the shoulder. We now cut 
it open, and grallocked the immense animal, to 
render it easier to examine. The bullet had gone 
through the centre of the heart; it had broken the 
shoulder on the opposite side, and had lodged 
