A WAPITI DUEL, 39 Mrs Barnett and Lieutenant Hobson had been chatting together for some minutes, when, with the exception of two, the wapitis suddenly ceased fighting. Was their rage satiated 1 or had they perceived the hunters, and felt the approach of danger ] Whatever the cause, all but two fine creatures fled towards the east with incredible speed; in a few instants they were out of sight, and the swiftest horse could not have caught them up. Meanwhile, however, two magnificent specimens remained on the field of battle. Heads down, antlers to antlers, hind legs stretched and quivering, they butted at each other without a moment's pause. Like two wrestlers struggling for a prize which neither will yield, they would not separate; but whirled round and round to- gether on their front legs as if riveted to one another. " What implacable rage ! " exclaimed Mrs Barnett. " Yes," replied the Lieutenant ; " the wapitis really are most spiteful beasts. I have no doubt they are fighting out an old quarrel" " Would not this be the time to approach them, when they are blinded with rage 1 " "There's plenty of time, ma'am," said Sabine; "they won't escape us now. They will not stir from where they are when we are three steps from them, the rifles at our shoulders, and our fingers on the triggers ! " "Indeed?" " Yes, madam," added Hobson, who had carefully examined the wapitis after the hunter's remark ; " and whether at our hands or from the teeth of wolves, those wapitis will meet death where they now stand," "I don't understand what you mean. Lieutenant," said Mrs Barnett. " Well, go nearer, madam," he replied ; " don't be afraid of startling the animals ; for, as our hunter says, they are no longer capable of flight." The four now descended the hill, and in a few minutes gained the theatre of the struggle. The wapitis had not moved. They were pushing at each other like a couple of rams, and seemed to be inseparably glued together. In fact, in the heat of the combat the antlers of the two creatures had become entangled together to such an extent that they could no longer separate without breaking them. This often happens in I
