The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-02-15
ELK HUNT In IDAHO.

clothed the narrow Salmon River valley
and the rugged mountains Ia downy
shroud my work was ended for the season.
IL was a holiday for the mining camp. IL
was the signal for shut down, which
means a spree for the average miner. My
heart bounded with JOY, too. Not that
expected to 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 tilnber. My
rife was bright rs new silver dollar.
had cleaned and oiled il teDtimes since ]
had fired it, just because enjoyed the
work by iamplight. | was busy day
times.
There was young English gentleman
In the camp who had been tied down TO
business for the same weary months. HIS
responsibility was great, but when night
came he sought my lodgings, ana u was
u recreation for us all TO see the spirit
which he entered into the hunting we did
by the flresde He had a new Winchester
which had never frightened n wild animal
by its report, but he dreamed OF many
trophies which he should bring down with
it and forward to his noble father when
the season Of rest from business ana OF
sport should arrive He sought me at
night when snow began to whiten the
ground and insisted that we go htteeu
miles up the mountain to Fish lake, ana
that we invite no one to accompany us
So on the first day OF snow we were on.
We employed n packer with pony 10
take our outfit TO the place designated
The stage road passed within three miles
of the lake, and We could, OF
course, walk that distance. Besides, the
hunting was good on the timbered noun
tain between the road and the camp
ground we had selected. We paid the
stage fare TO Granite Ridge, and, after
two hours run in four horse sleigh,
were put down in the silent, trackless for
psf We knew that Fish lake and our
bed and board were over the mountain
eOuthward. We could see the frowning
barrier through the breaks in the trees.
1t was high and gloomy, but we had six
bonrs of daylight We started, tramp,
tranp. The snow was q foot deep where
we left the stage road. On we assembled;
Il grew sleeper But we came to the
fresh trail Of herd of elk. Then we had
a beaten path. The elks were evidently
aiming TO cross the mountain toward the
lake. but were hunting around to avoid
increasing depth of SNOW and to find
pass that was less abrupt.
We followed them for mile or more,
when we came to very deep canyon,
which seemed TO almost cut the noun
tain IN two, but i'll 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 rs they went
in, or by crossing the rocky wasbout
along the width of the valley and return
ing on the opposite slope between us and
the rock wall.
While we were discussing q plan of at
tack we caught sight of the moving mass
Of brown against the snow. They were
feeding slowly about in the shelter OF the
towering piles of ssrrated basalt. They
were browsing the slender red willows
that grow in clumrs in the moist ground
AT the head Of the ravine.
Ny young friend, of hot, aristocratic
blood became restless. The scene was
not B. new one to me, so advised caution,
and finally succeeded in securing his con
sent 10 what seemed TO be the most
rational course TO adopt. But the young
Britisher was like the proverbial war
horse He must rush to the battle. de-
sired that he should walk across the mar
row strip of woods to the open ground
and wait in ambush for his quarry. But
no, he must 60 forward and shoot down
this noble antlered elk in open field. And
he went. nor did he wait Oh the order. A
Quarter of an hour later the report of his
gun echoed down the canyon. The thump
of heavy feet and the swapping Of brush
was soon heard all over the narrow valley.
| was not 'out of the woods" but saw
"a grand buck going at a trot that was
equal TO jay EyeSee's best gait, and
fired, fred, fired, but the buck still trotted
on with stride / never saw equaled be-
fore. His feet did not go over the snow,
but through its lleecy depths like plow.
As looked upon she flying form ! soon
could see only cloud of white was
surprised My trusty gun had never
failed at such mark before. Had
nursed il all summer 10 find it unreliable
when the hunting season had comes In
my haste TO get TO the open space l fell
and rolled in the snow, but was not long
in getting 10 the track Of the elk. There
was blood on the snow. Five yards from
where he was when | fired the last shot he
had snorted blood from his nose in large
quantities. had pierced his lungs He
would fall as surely as if shot through the
heart Yes, ten rods further on he was
dead He had crashed blindly against a
log and tumbled over in the snow.
After had slashed the trinity curved
throat of my victim, and watched with a
hunters exultation the gush OF crimson
that stained the pure snow till the excite
ment subsidized, my thoughts turned to my
uninjtiated companion. heard strained
voice as II some creature was in distress
FASTENED in the direction whence came
the wall. II was repeated at intervals OF
few seconds, so that my interest in the
object of my desire did not allow my
speed TO slacken till l had run nearly
half a mile through the deep snow, al
though ! had tripped over fallen buried
brush till l was white as ghost from
hair TO heels. AS neared the open slope
at the head Of the canyon where we had
seen the unsuspicious elk, n large buck
WAS seen rearing up and striking both
with hoofs and horns at a scrubby fir
bush, that, although thick ut the butt,
was not over ten feet high could see
nothing but the dark green foliage and