MATING 55 



Caribou. Progress was, under these conditions, painfully- 

 slow and tedious, and continued so while covering the half a 

 mile to the barren where I hoped to have the opportunity of 

 securing a photograph of the big stag. On we went, the 

 hunter and the unsuspicious hunted, sometimes within a few 

 feet of each other, for the does were wandering in a rather 

 aimless way, feeding as they went, and frequently going back 

 on their tracks. There were young stags, does and fawns in 

 plenty, but no sign of the big fellows. The woods were so 

 dense that no animal could be distinguished at a distance of 

 more than about thirty yards. Later on, much to my 

 delight, a many-pointed antler caught my eye, and though 

 it disappeared almost immediately, it left me happy in the 

 knowledge that without doubt there was one big stag near by. 

 Several times my white friend came in sight to my great con- 

 sternation and joy ; for it is always a source of satisfaction 

 to outwit any animal, especially one that has proved itself 

 unusually clever. After what seemed an interminable time 

 the barren could be seen ahead. I would have greatly liked 

 to go forward and watch the herd as they emerged from the 

 woods, but the wind prevented any such plan being carried 

 into effect. To stay down wind of every Caribou in the 

 herd was imperative if one could hope for any chance of 

 success. At last the entire herd were in clear view straggling 

 over the barren, and among them the large stags showed with 

 delightful clearness. I could see that besides the very large 

 ones there were five that carried heads of from twenty-five 

 to thirty-five or more points, one of these having extra- 

 ordinarily long, spindly horns, and a number of small stags 

 with about twenty- point heads — over a hundred animals of 

 all sizes and shades from almost white to dark grey. 

 Altogether it was a very wonderful sight and one which 

 filled me with hope. Seeing them and photographing them 



