the village people, hearing that the buck was killed and lying
in the old water-course, went in a gang to cut him up. What was their
surprise on reaching the spot to find the carcase removed! It had
evidently been dragged along the water-course, as the trail was
distinct in the high grass, and upon following it up, away went two
fine leopards, bounding along the rocks to their adjacent cave. They
had consumed a large portion of the flesh, but the villagers did not
leave them much for another meal. Skin, hoofs, and in fact every
vestige of an elk, is consumed by these people.

For my own part, I do not think much of elk venison, unless it be very
fit, which is rarely the case. It is at all times more like beef than
any other meat, for which it is a very good substitute. The
marrow-bones are the "bonne bouche," being peculiarly rich and
delicate. Few animals can have a larger proportion of marrow than the
elk, as the bones are more hollow than those of most quadrupeds. This
cylindrical formation enables them to sustain the severe shocks in
descending rough mountains at full speed. It is perfectly wonderful to
see an animal of near six hundred pounds' weight bounding down a
hillside, over rocks and ruts and every conceivable difficulty of
ground, at a pace which will completely distance the best hound; and
even at this desperate speed, the elk will never make a false step;
sure-footed as a goat, he will still fly on through bogs, ravines,
tangled jungles and rocky rivers, ever certain of his footing.

The foregoing description of an elk-hunt will give the reader a good
idea of the power of this animal in stemming rapids and climbing
dangerous precipices; but even an elk is not proof against the dangers
of Fort M'Donald river, an example of which we had on the following
morning.

The hounds found a doe who broke cover close to me in a small patina
and made straight running for the river. She had no sooner reached it
than I beard her cry out, and as she was closely followed I thought she
was seized. However, the whole pack shortly returned, evidently thrown
out, and I began to abuse them pretty roundly, thinking that they had
lost their game in the river. So they had, but in an excusable manner;
the poor doe had been washed down a rapid, and had broken her thigh. We
found her dead under a hollow rock in the middle of the river.

Here we had a fine exemplification of the danger of the mysterious
pools.

While I