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Desperate Battle Between an Elk and Wolves
27 his nose up, so as to lay the horns hori- or thirty feet off over the snow. Another zontally back; and in this attitude can- rush of the yelping pack, and this time not see the ground distinctly. As the the result is the same. It is hoof against Elk moves quickly, his gait is seen to be fang; but the second wolf lies prostrate a kind of irregular trot, the awkwardness from the well-directed blow of the hoof, of his movements being increased by the and the life is crushed out of the fierce length of his strides. But, despite the weight of his antlers, he contrives to pass over the ground in a quick fashion, that speedily distances an enemy of ordinary running powers.
The color of the Elk's hair is a dark "dog" by the massive weight of his foe.
Soon the hungry pack grow tired of the delay, and as one after another is maimed and bruised, the others retire and leave the field to the single combatant.
The Contest Ended. brown, and the hair is very coarse. In Or, perchance, the fight may end in a winter the coat tends to become of lighter different fashion. Overwhelmed by numhue, but the difference between the sum- bers, the brave moose gallantly withmer and winter hue does not appear to be stands for a while the charges of the foe. so strongly marked as in other deers.
But, weak and bleeding, he at length shows signs of weariness. The snarling Desperate Struggle.
The life of this great deer is unquestion- pack of wolves quickly see the failure of ably largely one of adventure. Pursued their adversary's strength, and redouble by man, and hunted by its natural ene- their efforts to encompass his destruction. mies, the wolves, the Elk may be said to Soon one bolder than the rest, during a spend a somewhat precarious existence, favorable moment, contrives to maim the even under the most favorable circum- great deer behind. He bites through the stances of his race. In the pine forests tendons or sinews of the thigh muscles, he may suddenly be alarmed by the deep and thus effectually lames his adversary. bay of his enemies, who may have ruth- Exhausted by the loss of blood, the Elk lessly pursued his track in the snow for at length stumbles. In a moment the miles. The deer quickens his footsteps, wolves surround him. Some fly at the but as his feet sink in the hardened snow, throat and head, others tear his limbs; his progress is but labored and slow. His and in the depths of the forest a life soon pursuers gain upon him, and in the forest disappears, and the moon rises on a scene depths he is at last brought to bay. which shows but the blood-stained snow Snarling and defiant, the wolves gather as the evidence of the grim fight which round their quarry, who seems to nerve by the laws of Nature is waged in the himself for the struggle, which he feels territory of animal life. with all the mute instinct of his race will In a different way, however, the Elk be one to the death. A wolf bolder may show his dexterity in escaping from than the rest makes a rush at the hind his foes. Pursued by them the deer may legs of the deer to "hamstring" the prey; fly from the forest glades to the open, and but in a moment, as if divining the intent scouring across the snowy wastes, may of the dog-fiend, the Elk wheels about; make for the lake, whose frozen waters the great antlers are lowered in an instant, can hardly bear the weight of the great and as they are raised the snarling wolf body. With a yell, the pursuers gain is hurled, maimed and bleeding, twenty upon their prey, but the deer flies swiftly enough over the snow. Soon the lake is land as best they may without their prey. reached, and the elk crashes upon the ice. The Elk struggles on amidst the broken In a moment, and ere the deer is many fragments of ice, which impede his progress feet from the shore, the ice gives way, as he swims. But he is at home in the
