92 NEWFOUNDLAND CARIBOU 



them as they were crossing the river, for not until they left 

 the trees did they shake the water from their dripping coats. 

 Then on they came, some trotting, some walking, all in a 

 hurry and most of them heading straight towards my blind. 

 What a beautiful sight it was ! Fully a hundred of the 

 splendid deer splashing through the snow and ice. Unfor- 

 tunately, a heavy cloud hid the sun so that the light was 

 bad. But there was another handicap still more serious. 

 My hands refused to do their work, the focussing screw of 

 the camera would not respond to the senseless touch of my 

 numbed fingers. It was maddening. Animal after animal 

 passed, some good stags among them, and they were within 

 fifteen or twenty yards, while the camera was focussed for 

 nine yards, and unless any of the animals came within that 

 range I should be unable to get a picture. At last, a rather 

 small stag, with about thirty-point horns, came along 

 the lead which was directly in front of me. Closer and 

 closer he came, and I watched the ground-glass intently as, 

 from a dim blur of grey, he gradually took shape, becoming 

 more and more clear and defined. He was rapidly filling 

 the plate, and it seemed as though I should not be able to 

 get him all in by the time he reached the point of focus. 

 There was no time to spare, for at the moment that he 

 showed sharply in focus he exactly covered the plate, and 

 I pressed the button. He was scarcely nine yards away. 

 Never have I seen a more thoroughly startled animal. In 

 the stillness of the morning the sound of the shutter was 

 alarmingly loud, and the stag apparently believed himself 

 shot. He nearly tumbled over backward as he jumped clear 

 of the trail. Then he stopped a moment and stared at me. 

 The rest of the herd also looked in my direction. What 

 a splendid chance it was for another picture ! But my 

 hands were too cold to work quickly, and in vain I fumbled 



