']2 NEWFOUNDLAND CARIBOU 



the remarks to the contrary which had been indulged in 

 by some of my friends who still consider it a namby-pamby 

 form of sport. It was altogether a day to be remembered, 

 a day to be marked with a big red star. Everything 

 appeared in attractive colours, the gaunt grey trees which 

 lined the banks of the river seemed to be old friends who 

 nodded their grizzly heads at me as I passed along the 

 quiet waterway of the wilderness ; even the low murmuring 

 of the wind through the firs seemed to congratulate me on 

 my good fortune. The day was almost at an end. The 

 setting sun left the river in deepening shade, and as I 

 slowly passed the homes of my beaver friends, the little 

 fellows appeared in their noiseless way on the surface of the 

 water, their small bright eyes staring intently at the drifting 

 canoe, until a current of air carried the scent of hated man 

 to their nostrils, when the silence of the evening was 

 instantly broken by the terrific signal of alarm — the striking 

 of the water with their heavy muscular tails as the animals 

 dived and sought the protection of dark waters. When 

 they reappeared I was landing at my camp, where I was 

 soon busily engaged in making ready for my evening meal 

 over the crackling fire, the delight of which can only be 

 properly appreciated by those who live alone in the woods, 

 for to them it is the cheerful companion of the long autumn 

 evenings, the last thing to be seen or heard as the healthily- 

 tired body drops off to sleep, the undisturbed dreamless 

 sleep found only in the land of pure unspoiled air far from 

 the haunts of man. 



