ahead, after which we shall be able
to form our plans."

He looked towards Clarice as he spoke. He had resolved not to expose
her to the fatigue and peril which his experience told him must
inevitably be endured by those attempting to make their way through so
wild a region as that before us. He therefore selected a suitable spot
for camping. Clarice's tent was put up, and we cut down poles and
boughs with which to form a couple of small huts for ourselves. Uncle
Jeff, Manley, and I had one, and the two men the other.

While the sergeant and Pat were employed in erecting the huts, the rest
of us took our rifles and started in search of game, and before long we
caught sight, towards the northern end of the valley, of several elk or
moose feeding near a wood. It was necessary to approach them
cautiously, however, for should they take the alarm they would be off at
a rate which would give us little chance of overtaking them. But the
wind came from them to us, and this was to our advantage.

The elk is one of the most wary of the deer tribe, and, notwithstanding
his enormous horns, he can pass through a thick forest, as he throws
them back on his shoulders so as in no way to impede his progress.
Large as was the wapiti which we had before met with, the elk is still
larger, and one of the animals we saw before us was fully seven feet in
height--as tall, indeed, as many an elephant. As the flesh is very
palatable food, we were eager to kill one or more of the herd. Uncle
Jeff, too, said that he wanted the skins to assist in making a tent, in
case we should have to remain some time at our present location.

Creeping along, then, as much under cover as possible, we endeavoured to
get within shot of the animals. We succeeded at last in reaching the
wood, and hoped, by making our way through it concealed by the trees, to
get up to them before we were discovered. Uncle Jeff led the way, while
Manley and I followed in Indian file. It was important not only to keep
ourselves concealed, but to avoid making any noise, as the elk has a
remarkably acute sense of hearing, and the slightest sound might startle
the herd.

We had succeeded in gaining a spot a thousand yards or so from them,
when I heard a noise in the bushes on our left, and rather ahead, the
herd being on the right. On looking narrowly in the direction from
whence the sound came, I caught sight of a panther, or "American lion,"
as the beast is commonly ca