66 RECENT HUNTING TRIPS. 



two hunting camps, aU the occupants of which 

 were already out watching *' leads." When we 

 were some three miles from Howley station we 

 left the line and turned northwards along some 

 open ridges intersected by boggy valleys. 

 After having walked about a mile in this direc- 

 tion we sat down at the foot of a large pine 

 tree. 



The mist was now clearing fast, and we 

 were presently able to distinguish objects at 

 some distance. The first living things we saw 

 were not caribou, but three men watching for 

 those animals on the same " lead " as ourselves, 

 and within two hundred yards of us. My 

 guide swore softly, and I found it difficult to 

 express adequately my own feelings. 



We then walked up to our competitors, who 

 proved to be natives of the island looking for 

 meat ; they were all known to my guide. Two 

 of them were armed with muzzle-loading 

 weapons, one of which was a long 8-bore 

 sealing gun, loaded with slugs. The third 

 carried a good breech-loading rifle. After a 

 short talk with these men it was arranged that 



