270 
WILD BEASTS AND THEIR WAYS 
CHAP. 
The opposite side of the valley was different in 
general character, as the hills, which rose to a 
considerable altitude and formed a wall, were not 
completely covered with forest, but on the contrary 
they were grassy slopes, only cut at intervals by 
ravines which had been scooped by water; these 
were clothed with spruce. 
The bottom of the valley was not wider than 
300 yards, and although it was more or less 
occupied by forest, there were many extensive 
tracts of open grass ground which afforded excellent 
pasturage; the little stream through this valley 
would ultimately flow through our camp, about 
3 or 4 miles distant in our rear. 
There was nothing in view when we scanned 
this valley with the glasses ; accordingly we dis¬ 
mounted, to ease the horses in the very steep 
descent; we then followed upon the tracks of the 
eight wapiti towards the bottom. 
Upon arrival at the stream, the tracks led across; 
upon the opposite side, after a search over a few 
hundred yards, we discovered the tracks of a large 
herd of these animals, among which those of our 
eight scared wapiti were confounded and utterly 
lost. It now became a serious question, “Where 
were they gone?” Having crossed the stream, I 
did not think they would have returned to the other 
side. They would not be likely to remain in the 
bottom of the valley. I therefore considered they 
would probably have taken refuge in one of the 
wooded ravines which scored the mountain’s side. 
