Democratic messenger., 1888-02-25
ELK HUNT IN IDAHO.

When the first November snow had
clothed the narrow Salmon River valley
and the rugged mountains IN n dUwny
shrout my work was ended for the season.
IL was u holiday for the mining camp. Il
was the signal for u shut down, which
means spree for the average miner. Ny
heart bounded with joy, too. Not that
expected 10 get drunk, but the report had
reached me every day for two weeks that
large herds Of elk and deer were low down
on the mountain In the open tiihbcr. Ny
rifle was bright as new silver dollar. /
had cleaned and oiled 1t ten times since !
had fred II, just because enjoyed the
work 10y lanplight. / was busy day
times.
There was young English gentleman
In the camp who had been tied down to
business for the same weary months. Ills
responsibility was great. but when night
came lie sought my lodgings, and IL was
n recreation for us all to see the spirit
which he entered into the hunting we did
by the iiresi,le. lie had new Winchester
which had never frightened n wild animal
by its report, but hc dreamed of many
trophies which he should bring down with
1t aud forward to his noble father when
the season Of rest from business and of
sport should arrive. lie sought me ut
night when snow began to whitcn the
ground, and insisted that we go fifteen
miles up the mountain to Fish lake, and
that VIC invite no one TO accompany us.
so OH the FIRST day OF snow we were OF.
We employed packer with pony IL
take our outfit TO the place designated.
The stage road passed within three miles
Of the lake, and Nc could, 81
course. walk that distance. Besides, the
hunting was gool on the timbered mouil-
tain between the road and the camp
ground we had selected. We paid the
stage fare 20 Granite Ridge, and, after n
two hours run in u four horse sleigh,
were put down in the silent, trachless for.
est. We knew that Fish lake and our
bed and board were over the mountain
southwark We could see the frowning
barrier through the breaks in the trees.
it was high and gloomy, but we had six
hours OF daylight. We started, tramp,
tramp The SNOW was foot deep where
we left the stage road. On We assembled;
II grew sleeper. But we came 10 the
fresh trail of u herd of elk. Then we had
u beaten path. The elks were evidently
aiming To cross the mountain toward the
increasing depth of snow and 10 find
pass that was less abrupt.
We followed them for mile or more,
when we came TO n very deep canyon,
which seemed to almost cut the noun
tain In two, but In reality was sort of
pocket. We discovered that the walls
grew sleeper and fenced in the little cove.
Our game was in trap They could
only escape by coming back ns they went
in, or by crossing the rocky washout
along the width Of the valley and return
ing on the opposite slope between us and
the rock wall.
While we were discussing plan of st.
tack we caught sight OF the moving mass
III brown against the snow. They were
feeding slowly about in the shelter 81 the
towering piles Of scrratcd basalt. They
were browsing the slender red willows
that grow in clumps in the moist ground
at the head OF the rayinc.
Ny young friend, Of hot, aristocratic
blood, became restless. The scene was
not u new one TO me, so advised caution,
and finally succeeded In securing his con
sent Ia what seemed to be the most
rational course 10 adopt. But the young
Britishcr was like the proverbial war
horse. lie must rush 10 the battle. de-
sired that he should walk across the mar
row strip of woods la the open ground
and wait In ambush for his quarry. hut
no, he must go forward and shoot down
this noble an,lcrcd elk Ia open field. And
he went, nor did hc wait ON the order. a
quarter % an ho1r later the report ~ his
gun echoed down the canyon. The thump
of heavy feet AMI the swapping IL brush
was soon heard all over the narrow valley.
| was not 'uut of the woods" but saw
grand buck going at u trot that was
equal TO Jny-Eye-See's best gait, and l
fired, fired, fired, but the buck sti.l trnticd
on with stride never saw cqnalrd be-
fore. His feet d'd not 90 over the snow,
hut through its lleecy depths like a plow.
As looked upon the flying form soon
could see only ~ cloud Of white. was
surprised Ny irusty gun hal never
fai!ed IL such mark before. Had /.
nurscd IL all summer To t.nd IL unreliable
when the hunting season had COME: Ia
my haste Ia get To the open space fell
and rolled IN the SNOW. hut was not long
in getting Ia the track ~ the elk. There
va, blOwl on the suow. Five yards from
where be- was hen fired the last shot lac
had snuric,l bloud from his nose In lar:,c
quantities. had pierced his lungs. lie
Woul! fall AZ surely as II shot through the
heart Yes. ten rods further On he was
dr;p!. lie lad crashed blindly against II
log and tumiA,cd over in the snow.
After hal slashcd the trinity curved
throat ~ my victim, aud watched with n
hunters "Auliatiun the gush uf crimson
that iaiia'l the pure Snow I'LL the excite
rrni suhSi'lc,l. my thoughts turned io my
Hn,n'i.aig,! companion. ] heard q astralncd
voice ns If some creature WIS in distress.
the wHlI. II was repeated ai intervals ~
"a few seconds. 81 that my interest In the
object uf my desire did not allow my
speed to slactcn til hnd run nearly
half mile through the deep snow. al
thonsh | had trippcd over fallen buried
brush til was white rs n ghost frnm
hair To- heels. ~ ncarcd the open slope
NJ The head ~ the canyon where we had
sccn the unanspicioms elk. n large buck
was seen rearing mp and striking bath
with hnnfs un,l horns nt n scrubhy fr
hush. that, although thick Ri the hutt,
was not over ten feet high. cnnld see
noihin: hut the dark green foliage and
wondcred at the energy displayed by the
uad lHast. The Voiee that guided me
seemed a. come from the bush. I drew
my gun ,lown "a shoot. Just then the elk
settled dawn bchind and seemed la lbe
dying.
novel forward somewhat cautiously.
Some object moved Ia the clumpy little
tree. 4 pair ~ LEGS straishtcnrd ,lown
near the nos. ~ the elk. The frrnzie,l
l,cast aroused from his siupor and rushed
Mt them. Again tile scream rang out.
The legs were drawn and the elk sank
slowly back Ia tho snow. As I came
within ten yards his eyes were CLASSY and
fixel. hni every lime my English friend
stretched out his lees u find support the
elk Wonld charge as though II werc.A rel
f,c way,sl a. challenge him The eager