9 o 



EXPLORATIONS IN THE FAR NORTH 



their collars, and urged to greater exertion by the men, who 

 shouted, "Ayee ecwoh, m'nitla!" there are the caribou, now, 

 go! The alarmed caribou were dashing about in all directions, 

 yet managing to keep out of range, though several shots were 

 fired before they entered the timber. Around us rose the pre- 

 cipitous snow-covered mountains through a gap of which a 

 large stream entered the lake, its cascades giving off clouds of 

 vapor. High above us a bald eagle wheeled in majestic flight, 

 with white crown and crissum flashing in the light of the rising 

 sun. Cutting our way through a brule we reached another 

 lake, upon which there was an abundance of fresh tracks. An 

 hour later I left the others and started down the lake with the 

 boy before the dogs. Three or four bands of caribou, perhaps 

 fifty in all, soon came out upon the ice. Yahty ran toward the 

 nearest of them followed by the dogs which dashed past him 

 at full cry as soon as they discovered the caribou. I was 

 seated upon the sled while Yahty, holding the sled line, ran in 

 the cloud of snow which trailed out behind. 



The caribou stood motionless until we were within a couple 

 of hundred yards before making off; they soon stopped, side 

 on, to survey their pursuers, snuffing the air for a moment; then 

 they would throw back their heads and leap high in the air, 

 and again dash away at a swift run, passing patches of smooth 

 ice without a misstep. The drifts were small, but the snow 

 was well hardened, making a rough surface for the swift-flying 

 sled. Just as I would be about to pull the trigger, after taking 

 hasty aim, a sudden lurch would nearly dislodge me from my 

 seat and perhaps send the muzzle of the rifle skywards. I suc- 

 ceeded, however, in killing two and breaking a fore leg of an- 

 other which ran with undiminished speed, in fact, led the band 

 as they entered the timber and so escaped. 



Placing a row of pine boughs at intervals of fifteen or twenty 

 yards quite across an arm of the lake, we concealed ourselves 

 on shore, and waited the appearance of the caribou. Only one 

 band approached our barrier, which they followed some dis- 

 tance, but did not venture to cross; they turned away before 

 coming within range. The following day we were more suc- 

 cessful in employing this, a common device of the Dog Ribs. 



That evening we feasted until a late hour upon the first cari- 

 bou meat of the season. Several heads were skinned and hung 



