XXIV 
THE WAPITI 
267 
We had ascended from the glen in which the 
camp was pitched, and had reached the level plateau, 
which extended for several miles, bordered upon 
two sides by a continuation of the deep valley in a 
winding course. The stream in the bottom, together 
with good pasturage and forest-covered slopes upon 
the mountain sides, formqd an attractive combination 
for game. It occurred to me that the animals 
would probably amuse themselves upon the open 
plateau during the night, and retire soon after 
daylight to the seclusion of the forest; therefore, 
shortly after sunrise, we found ourselves upon the 
level ground about 500 feet above the valley. The 
formation was peculiar; the plateau represented an 
immense terrace, as other ridges rose above it, until 
the highest point formed a prominent figure in the 
general outline of the landscape. Although the 
surface was sufficiently level for a horse to gallop 
at full speed, there were many slight depressions 
where the ground had been water-worn by streams 
during heavy rains or melting snows. Bears were 
regular visitors, as many of the flat stones had been 
turned over in their search for insects. There were 
tracks of wapiti, also of buffaloes and black-tail 
deer, therefore I felt tolerably sanguine of finding 
game in some of the ravines that opened upon this 
extensive terrace from the neighbouring hills. 
As we rode leisurely along through the centre 
of this barren area, we frequently halted to scan 
the country with binoculars. Upon one of these 
occasions my attention had been attracted by a dark- 
