XXIV 
THE WAPITI 
269 
before every nook and corner of the country. We 
had not proceeded far when I made out another 
buffalo; this lay in our route, therefore without 
taking the trouble to notice it, we rode straight 
forward. When within about 300 yards it observed 
us, and turning away, it retreated across the open, 
making towards the direction of the higher ground. 
We now observed specks moving upon the 
surface at so great a distance that I thought they 
were black-tail deer, until the binoculars declared 
them to be wapiti. A rigid inspection with the 
glasses proved them to be eight fine stags that were 
slowly trotting on before us, as though they had 
been recently disturbed. 
It struck me that they must have seen the 
buffalo gallop off in retreat, and this was the cause 
of their disturbance. We followed at a canter, to 
keep them within our view, as I felt sure they 
would turn to the right, and seek the shelter of the 
forests upon the slopes, above the winding valley. 
In about ten minutes we had gained upon them 
considerably, and they had neared the margin of 
the plateau. As I had expected, they now dis¬ 
appeared one by one, as they descended to the 
lower ground. 
We rode quickly to the spot upon which they 
had been lost to view : their tracks showed plainly 
the course of their descent. This was a narrow 
grassy slope interspersed with a few spruce firs, 
forming a division in the long dark foliage which 
clothed the hillside for a distance of many miles. 
