90 NEWFOUNDLAND CARIBOU 



fluid from the glands in the foot, and that this fluid is a 

 signal of alarm, a silent and invisible warning, but none 

 the less so positive that none dare ignore it. Whether this 

 fluid is expelled voluntarily or by a purely mechanical efl^ort, 

 I do not pretend to say, but it is quite possible that the sudden 

 jumping causes the hoof to separate, and that in doing so the 

 glands are brought into operation, so that a minute particle 

 of the fluid is left on the ground. I can almost hear the 

 reader say, " Bosh ! " but will he give any more plausible 

 explanation ? If he can I shall be delighted ; if not, let him 

 at least be patient and not condemn my theory too harshly. 

 After the small herd had passed it was some time before 

 anything exciting happened. The rising sun was slowly 

 melting the frost and light snow, so that every minute 

 reduced my chance of securing a picture of the animals in 

 ideal surroundings. I pictured to myself a splendid stag 

 standing on the glistening carpet. How beautiful he would 

 be, and how his richly-coloured horns would stand out 

 from the pale background ! While I was thus engaged in 

 arranging each detail to my satisfaction, a young stag 

 actually appeared, so quietly that he seemed almost as a 

 reflection of my thoughts. True, my plans called for a big 

 stag with record head, while this approaching animal was a 

 small one with insignificant horns. Still it was a stag, and 

 he was evidently coming near enough to be photographed, 

 and the snow was not all melted. So I accepted gratefully 

 what the gods offered, and as the stag came within range I 

 shot him with the harmless camera. The slight report of the 

 shutter sounded woefully loud in the still air : loud enough to 

 thoroughly frighten the animal, for he quickly ttirned from the 

 trail and was almost immediately lost among the stunted trees, 

 but I had secured the picture which appears on the opposite 

 page. 



