XXIV 
THE WAPITI 
275 
below us ; our backs were turned towards the ridge 
or summit of the hills above us. We were standing 
upon a spur that ran from crest to valley-bottom ; 
upon our right was an amphitheatre, a regular horse¬ 
shoe of high cliffs forming the outline of the ridge ; 
a terrace slightly below our level, with only a few 
places where it would be possible for horses to 
descend from the highest point above. We now 
observed mounted men scouring along the sky-line, 
evidently looking for a passage to the lower ground. 
At the same moment my eye distinguished what I at 
first supposed was a runaway horse, which was 
galloping along the auditorium of the amphitheatre. 
In another instant I perceived that this was a 
wapiti stag with large antlers, coming in our 
direction, and I felt certain that it would cross the 
saddle of the hill-top above us, from which we had 
just descended. 
Jumping into the saddle, I gave Buckskin the 
spurs, and hurried up the hill to arrive if possible 
below the saddle, on the right, to intercept the stag. 
Jem followed, and by dint of the sharp rowels I 
managed to force the lazy Buckskin up the steep 
incline, and to gain the hollow in the ridge through 
which I felt sure the wapiti must pass. I jumped 
out of the saddle when within 100 yards, and a few 
paces on the lower side of the hollow pass. Hardly 
was I upon my feet when the large antlers and 
head and neck of the stag appeared at full speed, 
tearing through the open space. I fired, but I saw 
the dry earth fly a few inches short, as the bullet 
