XXIV 
THE WAPITI 
2 77 
these were hurrying towards the spot where they 
had heard the two shots I had fired. These people 
would be as astonished as ourselves at meeting 
white men when least expected, in the wilderness of 
the Big Horn range. We now stood upon the 
ridge, which at their lower level would be the sky¬ 
line in their point of view. 
In a few minutes they arrived. Our salutations 
were quickly exchanged. “ Here lies your stag, 
and I am glad to have stopped it,” I said. “It was 
wounded of course, was it not ? ” demanded one of 
the party. “ Only one bullet has touched it, and 
that was the last,” I answered. 
They all dismounted, and examined the beautiful 
beast as it lay stretched upon the ground, like a 
picture. “We shall be thankful for a little venison, 
as we have tasted nothing but bacon since we 
left Cheyenne seven days ago,” said the first 
spokesman. 
I now explained to them that the stag before 
them was the third I had shot within about a quarter 
of an hour, and that it was by a mere chance they 
had driven this animal across my path. They were 
welcome to the horns of this stag and the flesh of 
all three beasts, if they required them for their 
party. 
We quickly made acquaintance, and they 
accompanied me to look at the other two wapiti. 
I advised them to camp immediately below the hill, 
as there was good water and fuel upon the spot. 
It would be easy to cut up the deer, and carry the 
