The ascent was steep and led up through dense forest.

At intervals, when Wade halted to catch his breath and listen, he heard faint snapping of dead branches far above.

At length he reached the top of the mountain, to find a wide, open space, with heavy forest in front, and a bare, ghastly, burned-over district to his right.
Fox growled, and appeared about to dash forward.

Then, in an opening through the forest, Wade espied a large bull elk, standing at gaze, evidently watching him.

He was a gray old bull, with broken antlers.
Wade made no move to shoot, and presently the elk walked out of sight.
"Too old an' tough, Fox," explained the hunter to the anxious dog.