221 
ELK-HUNTING IN INDEROEN. 
Here again the smoking “ sign,” and those huge slots in 
soft sphagnum, with water still trickling-in, gave clearest 
evidence that we followed on their very heels, but the 
density of that dark forest proved fatal—never was 
hunter so near and yet so far. 
At dusk—being then many miles beyond our boun¬ 
dary we were constrained finally to abandon this grand 
bull, after following him, during three days, some fifty 
miles, and with sick hearts we set out hutwards, having 
no small trouble in finding a way, for we were far 
beyond our sheet of the ordnance map. 
Luck seemed to have sunk to zero. Six different 
times during three days a feather might have turned 
the balance in our favour, and given us the first prize 
of the forest; but wind and viewless wood alternately 
combined to defeat us. Besides, these elk never stopped 
—never ceased that unending forward trail. We could 
not understand it then ; it was contrary to all their 
known habits. But we know the reason now, and it 
will presently be explained. I could hardly have 
followed a fourth day, and we put in an “ easy ” with 
the trout, of which we caught over forty, some weighing 
two pounds, but few retain condition in mid-September 
—all are going back, and many ready to spawn. 
Several times, during succeeding days, we fell in 
with recent spoor, on two occasions with burning scent; 
but the same breathless atmospheric conditions continued 
* By Norsk law and custom, spoor can be followed without 
regard to boundaries, provided, of course, that the game is found in 
the first instance on one’s own ground ; but the hunter, if challenged, 
is liable to prove his right by the “ back-trail.” This is, of course, 
only possible on soft ground, and the penalties are heavy for killing 
an elk illegally, or on unauthorized land. 
