f ptarmigan busily feeding on the crests of the low hills which
here and there crossed the route. These birds proved rather shy, though
not so much so as to have prevented the sportsmen making a very decent
bag had they been provided with fowling-pieces. As it was, however, the
birds were, of course, permitted to go free and undisturbed. A mile
further on a small drove of musk-oxen were seen grazing in the distance,
and, whilst some of the party were watching the animals and discussing
the possibility of stalking them, Mildmay, who had been intently gazing
through his binocular in another direction, startled his companions by
exclaiming, in an almost horrified tone of voice:

"What on earth are those immense creatures moving slowly about in the
valley away yonder? Surely they _can't_ be elephants?"

"Elephants! my dear fellow, don't be absurd," remonstrated the baronet.
"Where are they? Oh, ah! now I have them," as he brought his glass to
bear in the right direction. "By George, they _are_ elephants, though,
and monsters into the bargain. And, I declare, it seems to me that they
are covered with a thick coat of shaggy hair. Why, I never saw such a
thing in my life."

"_Elephants? Covered with hair_?" exclaimed the professor in a voice so
eager that it almost amounted to a scream. "Lend me a binocular,
somebody; with my usual luck I have left mine at home--on board, I mean.
A thousand thanks, Mildmay, my dear fellow. Now, where are these
elephants of yours? Quick, show me where to look for them. Good
heavens! if it should really be so. Ah! now I see them. Yes--yes--they
are--they _must_ be--Gentlemen, as I am a man of science, I solemnly
declare to you the stupendous fact that those extraordinary animals are
neither more nor less than living Mammoths. I congratulate you,
gentlemen--I congratulate myself. Ach, himmel! to think that it should
ever be my good fortune to actually behold, not only one, but a whole
herd of living mammoths! I cannot believe it--yet--yes, there they are;
it is no freak of a disordered imagination, but an actual, positive,
undeniable reality."

The worthy professor was so excited that he could scarcely hold the
binocular firmly enough to look through it, and it was really
laughable--to his companions--to hear his "Ach's" and "Pish's" of
impatience as he vainly strove to steady his trembling hands and get
another good look at the herd of hitherto believed extinct monsters,
wh