DEER-SHOOTING 43 



snarling wolves, which was hovering round the yards in 

 hope, I suppose, of a snap at one of the calves. There 

 were seven moose confined between the snow walls : one 

 old bull, one young bull, three cows, and two calves, the 

 latter of a pretty good size. Bulls, cows, and calves, are 

 the terms applied to these animals, and usually to wipiti 

 too, by the trappers. 



The poor brutes seemed to foresee their impending 

 fate, for they made desperate attempts to escape. But 

 they were in a complete trap. The older animals were 

 shot: for the moose is an ugly customer at close quarters ; 

 and the calves killed by cutting their throats. 



For the flaying and cutting up of these animals help 

 was required, for they probably produced more than two 

 tons (over 4000 pounds) of meat. One of the Indians 

 was therefore sent back to the village while we proceeded 

 to make shelter huts, and camp in the yard, which was 

 crimson with blood. Here there was soon a disgusting 

 spectacle, my companions gorging themselves with flesh 

 till they were literally unable to swallow more. But this 

 was nothing to what occurred the next day when our mes- 

 senger returned with about sixty persons at his heels, 

 nearly all squaws and children, with Chom and Emma 

 amongst them (Andrew was away trapping near Grand 

 Lake). These people were beside themselves with 

 delight, for their husbands and fathers being away in 

 the woods shooting and trapping, they were on short 

 commons, the late severe weather having made it difficult 

 to find fish or small game. Here, however, was meat 

 and to spare, though even the entrails were eagerly 

 sought after as too valuable to be wasted. The wretched 

 little urchins of the party were soon smothered in blood 

 from head to foot, and not a few of them, and their 

 mothers, ate pieces of the meat raw, too hungry, or 

 impatient, to wait until fires could be lit to cook it. 

 Plenty of hand-sleighs had been brought, and the meat 

 was soon all taken away. The women had helped to 



