ments to
gaze at us with an expression of wonder.

"`They will be off now,' I muttered in an undertone to my wife and
Cudjo. `No doubt they will be off in a moment, and they are entirely
out of reach of my rifle.'

"I had caught hold of the gun on first seeing them, and held it in
readiness across my knees Harry and Frank had also seized their small
pieces.

"`What pity, Massa Roff,' said Cudjo, `de big rifle no reach 'em!
Golly! de be ebery one fat as 'possum!'

"I was thinking whether I might not creep a little closer to them, when,
to our surprise, the animals, instead of starting off into the woods
again, came several paces nearer, and again halted, tossing up their
heads with a snort similar to that which they had uttered before. I say
that this astonished all of us, for we had heard that the elk was an
exceedingly shy animal. So, too, they are, of any danger to which they
are accustomed; but, like most of the deer and antelope tribe, their
curiosity is greater than their fear; and they will approach any object
which may be new to them, and examine it minutely, before running off.
I saw that curiosity had brought them so much closer to us; and,
thinking they might advance still nearer, I cautioned my companions to
remain silent, and without making any stir.

"The wagon, with its great white tilt, appeared to be the main
attraction to our strange visitors; and, after eyeing it a moment with
looks of wonder, they again moved several paces forward, and stopped as
before. A third time they advanced towards it, and again made halt.

"As the wagon was at some distance from where we were sitting by the
fire, their movements towards it brought their great sides somewhat into
our view. Their last advance, moreover, had brought the leader within
range of my rifle. He was much the largest of the three, and I
determined to wait no longer, but let him have it; so, levelling my
piece at the place which I supposed lay nearest to his heart, I pulled
trigger.

"`Missed him!' thought I, as the three great animals wheeled in their
tracks, and went away like lightning. What was strange to us, they did
not gallop, as most deer do, but went off in a sort of shambling trot,
like a `pacing' horse, and quite as fast as a horse could gallop.

"The dogs--which, up to this time, Cudjo had been holding by their
necks--dashed after with yelps and barking. They were all--both elk and
dogs--soon lost to our eyes; but for some ti