34 THE GREAT NORTH-WEST 



were scattered about among the trees in an open part of 

 the forest, and were resting, a few browsing on the tops 

 of the very young spruce saplings. They were some two 

 hundred yards away, on lower ground than that where 

 we stood, and had not the slightest suspicion of our 

 presence. The Indian had previously cautioned me that 

 the utmost noiselessness was necessary, for the deer would 

 bolt the moment they detected us, and in the present state 

 of the ground it would be impossible to overtake them a 

 second time. 



Using the utmost care to keep ourselves concealed 

 and avoid noise, we managed to creep fifty yards nearer. 

 A further advance without discovery was impossible ; 

 but the nearest deer was quite a hundred and fifty yards 

 off, double the distance that Tom's common musket would 

 carry with anything like accuracy. Partly by whisper, 

 partly by gesture, he intimated that he would move to 

 the right to a hollow way along which he thought the 

 deer would fly, and take his chance of a running shot. 

 I was to give him time to reach his post, and then pick 

 off the animal I had marked to try my skill on. 



My excitement was intense. I actually trembled 

 with eager anxiety to secure my prize. I had never 

 yet shot anything bigger than a hare, and I was pos- 

 sessed with all the enthusiasm of a young sportsman. 

 When I thought that Tom must have reached the hollow 

 way, I, crouching behind a bush, took steady aim and 

 fired. The cariboo fell on his knees and rolled over on 

 his back, but he immediately strove to rise again, and was 

 quickly on his legs. I rushed forward, shouting like a 

 mad fellow, oblivious of everything but the fear of losing 

 my victim, and never noticed the sound of the shot which 

 Tom fired as some of the herd rushed past him. My 

 buck hobbled along on three legs at a good speed, and I 

 lost sight of him for a minute or two several times ; but 

 he was badly hurt, and the thick stream of blood on the 

 ground enabled me to follow him as fast as I could run 



