270 ON THE TRACK OF THE CARIBOO. 



through the dense morning mist, which they gradually 

 dissipated. We all three set out, observing the most 

 profound silence ; and I think, to speak the truth, that 

 nothing was audible but the beating of my own heart, so 

 much was I moved at the idea of encountering that mar- 

 vellous animal, the king of the North American forests. 

 The aspect of the landscape through which we advanced 

 was admirably majestic ; the motionlessiiess of Nature 

 was only disturbed by the leaping of the squirrels and the 

 flight of pies and crows. At each step we encountered 

 the track of the cariboos ; but, without halting, Mr. 

 Howard and myself followed Monai, to whom we had 

 abandoned the direction of the chase. 



We soon arrived at the foot of a lofty mountain, and 

 there Monai, turning towards us, informed us in a low 

 voice that we were approaching the spot frequented by 

 the cariboos, who were pasturing in the sunshine. The 

 Indian recommended us anew to observe a profound 

 silence, and we advanced in his trail. A few steps 

 further on we found some dung, which was completely 

 fresh. Monai informed us that an animal had passed 

 only two hours before ; and taking a direction contrary 

 to the wind, which blew for a few moments, he conducted 

 us to a basse-cour, where the cariboos had taken shelter 

 during the night, for we could see, all around a few 

 stunted cedars, a space which had been trampled down 

 by many feet. Mr. Howard, thrusting his hand into the 

 snow, asserted that it was still warm, and that the cariboos 

 who had halted there could not be far distant. 



