328 Game of Europe, W. & N. Asia & America 



iniportiint to lulvance up wind, this is not so nuicli the case in regard to 

 musk-oxen. 



" When we <^ot within 150 yards of the herd the animals ran together 

 and assumed their usual formation, ranging themselves side by side in a 

 row, witli front to the enemy. A couple of bulls which had been in the 

 immediate neighbourhood then came and joined the ranks. We continued 

 to advance, and the oxen remained in position until some 70 yards only 

 separated us ; then they turned round and went off at tull speed. I knew 

 what to do, and immediately slipped my dog Janette, which had previously 

 assisted me in similar situations, and a few seconds atterv^'ards the herd 

 again came to a stand, still in the same order as before, and snuffing at the 

 dog, whose barking seemed to alarm them much. 



" We now went quietly forward towards the animals, which allowed us 

 to come quite near ; and at a distance of less than 30 yards we witnessed 

 the curious spectacle of a number of big beasts — which bv a sudden attack 

 could have knocked us and the dog over without our being able to do 

 them any mischief — collected together in order of battle to defend them- 

 selves against the latter altoirether harmless little creature. While we 

 watched the scene with interest an event occurred which ultimately 

 brought about the end. The leading bull generallv takes up a position at 

 one of the wings, and appears to crowd the cows together, and such was 

 the case on the present occasion ; but, as often happens when there is a 

 dog in front of the herd, he advanced alone to meet the .intruder. A fine 

 fellow he looked, as with lowered head, and everv now and again tearing 

 up the ground with his horns, he passed up and down in front ot his troop 

 a couple of times, made a rush at the dog, and returned to his posititMi at 

 the fiank. When the dog saw him thus return, he renewed his barking 

 with fresh energy, and then a second bull rushed and proceeded to act very 

 much as the first had done ; but his assumption o\ leadership the latter 

 would not stand, and he went for his rival with his sharp horns, making 



