My First Kill 27 



be the only shot I should get, for Indians had 

 gone into the Barren Grounds in more propitious 

 seasons, and not seen even one herd, yet with 

 the musk-oxen going away from me all the while, 

 every instant of time seemed an insuperable age. 

 The agony of those few seconds I waited so as to 

 steady my hand ! Once or twice I made another 

 attempt to aim, but still the hand was too uncer- 

 tain. I did not dare risk a shot. When I had 

 rested a minute or two, that seemed fully half an 

 hour, at last the fore sight held true for an in- 

 stant ; and I pressed the trigger. 



The exultation of that moment when I saw 

 one of the two musk-oxen stagger, and then fall, 

 I know I shall never again experience. 



The report of my rifle startled the other musk- 

 ox into a wild gallop over a ridge, and I followed 

 as rapidly as I could, so soon as I made sure that 

 the other was really down. As I went over the 

 ridge I caught sight of the remaining musk-ox, 

 and shot simultaneously with two reports on my 

 left, which I later discovered to have come from 

 the second Indian whom I had passed in closing 

 upon Seco on the run to the first view of the 

 musk-oxen, and who now hove in sight with one 

 dog, as the second musk-ox dropped. 



