Caribou 203 



sense of smell Is exquisite, and its eyes and ears are good, but 

 it relies mostly on its nose. 



I once had an adventure with a Caribou which, though 

 slight and unromantic, might have cost me my life. It illus- 

 trates the uncertain temper of the animal and the energy with 

 which it can act on occasion: 



About 1889 some one in Maine offered Barnum a fine 

 bull Caribou. The genial showman at once secured this animal, 

 which, though so common in a wild state, is rare in menageries, 

 and brought it, wild-eyed and sullen, to Madison Square Gar- 

 den, New York. As soon as I heard of its arrival I wrote for 

 permission to make some notes. Receiving this, I went to the 

 Garden. The keeper in charge was as sulky as the prisoner. 

 The letter of the Manager barely secured attention. 



"You'll find him there," and he jerked his head toward a 

 dark stall. 



"That won't do," I said, "I am here to sketch him, and 

 must see him." 



"Well, suit yourself." 



Proceeding to do so, I got a long rope halter on the crea- 

 ture's neck. The keeper, seeing me about the risky business 

 of leading the Caribou into the ring, and knowing that he would 

 be held responsible, got another long halter, and together we 

 brought the animal out where he could be seen. 



There was nothing to tie him to, so we had to stand holding 

 the ropes and be ready to pull in different directions. In order 

 to have my hands free for sketching, I tied the rope around my 

 waist. Soon the keeper got very weary of his task. The 

 clowns in the next ring were practicing for the afternoon per- 

 formance and he turned to watch them. The Caribou seemed 

 to see its chance. Giving a great bound it jerked the rope 

 from the keeper's grasp and dashed the length of Madison 

 Square Garden, dragging me by the rope which was tied about 

 my waist. I rolled over many times, but, after about 50 yards, 

 got my heels Into the sawdust and my hands on the rope. 

 The circus people did nothing but laugh and cheer as the 

 powerful brute lunged along; but the keeper, realizing that he 



