; and the remainder of the
antelope, suspended over the fire, was roasting and sputtering in the
blaze. Mary had set out the great chest, covered with a clean white
cloth--for she had washed it the day before; and upon this our tin
plates and cups--scoured until they were shining like silver--were
regularly arranged. When all these little preparations had been made,
we seated ourselves around the fire, and watched the dainty venison as
it became browned and crisped in the blaze. Cudjo had suspended the
joint by a piece of strong cord, so that, by simply whirling it around,
it would then continue for some time turning itself, as well as if it
had been upon a patent jack-spit. We were congratulating ourselves on
the fine supper we were likely soon to partake of, when, all at once,
our attention was directed to a noise that came out of the woods, near
the border of the open ground. There was a rustling of leaves, with a
cracking sound as of dead sticks, broken by the hoofs of some heavy
animal. All our eyes were immediately turned in that direction.
Presently we saw the leaves in motion; and the next moment three large
animals stepped out into the glade, apparently with the intention of
crossing it.

"At first sight we thought they were deer--for each of them carried a
pair of branching antlers--but their great size at once distinguished
them from any of the deer species we had ever seen. Any one of them was
as large as a Flemish horse; and their huge antlers rising several feet
above their heads, gave them the appearance of being still much larger.
On seeing the branched and towering horns, we took them for deer,--and
in fact they were so; but far differing from either the red or
fallow-deer that are to be met with in parks and forests. They were
elk--the great elk of the Rocky Mountains.

"On coming out of the timber, they marched forward, one after the other,
with a proud step, that showed the confidence they placed in their great
size and strength--as well as in the pointed weapons which they carried
upon their heads, and which they can use upon an enemy with terrible
effect. Their appearance was extremely majestic; and we all admired
them in silence as they approached, for they came directly towards our
camp.

"At length they caught sight of our wagon and fire,--neither of which
objects, up to this time, they had seen. All at once they halted,
tossed up their heads, snorted, and then continued for some mo