other end, for he could see that his gun
lay in such a position that the barrel was tilted.

Bluff then began to angle. Many times he came near accomplishing his
purpose, when something occurred to break up his plans.

"I'll never give up," he declared, when the elk moved forward, as if
suspecting something, and endeavored to catch the dangling noose in its
antlers, which Bluff would not have happen for anything.

"If I was trying to catch you, I'd want something stronger than this
rag. Now please wander away again, and let me have another try," he
said; and then, as the animal did walk off a dozen paces, as if
encouraging him to descend, he courteously added, "Thank you."

A minute later he was thrilled to find that his erratic loop had
actually dropped over the end of the gun barrel. A quick jerk at the
proper instant tightened the clutch, and after that it was the easiest
thing in the world to pull the weapon up within reach of his trembling
hands.

"Now, we'll see if you're going to have the laugh on me, you old scamp!
Hi! Hold on, there! Who said you could walk away? Come back here, and
have it out! I dare you!"

The elk, as if suspecting that all was not well, had indeed started to
move off. But when Bluff made a great feint of coming down, he succeeded
in exciting the animal's anger again, and caution was flung to the
winds.

Bluff watched for his chance, and when it came he made sure work of it
by sending a bullet through the heart of the fighting elk.

Even then he waited a little while.

"Going to try getting up again? This time I'm ready for you, old
fellow!" he said to the fallen beast; but presently it became patent,
even to his inexperienced eyes, that the elk had breathed its last.

"Now, if Will were only here," Bluff remarked enviously, as he put one
foot on his prize and tried to look very unconcerned, as if knocking
down such big game might be a matter of almost daily occurrence with
him.

Not knowing how to go about cutting the elk up, Bluff headed back toward
the camp. Before leaving the spot he thought to bleed the quarry, after
a fashion, for he understood that such a thing was always done to make
the meat taste better.

Half an hour later he showed up in the camp. It was next to impossible
to get lost in that valley, which might account for Bluff finding his
way back with comparative ease.

Jerry was lounging alongside one of the tents, engaged in getting his
fishing tackle in o