LITTLE BULL OF THE BARRENS 183 



had noted a little valley, a depression in the 

 vast wind-swept level of the barrens, lying 

 but a couple of stones' throw aside from the 

 banks of the river which was his guide. He 

 knew that there he would find a dense growth 

 of the stunted firs which spring up where- 

 ever they can find shelter from the wind. 

 There he knew he would find dry stuff in 

 plenty for his fire. There he would take 

 covert till the storm should go down and 

 suffer him to trail the musk-ox herd. After 

 eyeing the black bull steadily for some 

 minutes, he softly turned away, and without 

 haste made for the valley of the little 

 firs, dragging the laden sledge behind 

 him. 



The black bull snorted thickly and took 

 several steps forward. The strange figure 

 fading silently away through the drift evi- 

 dently feared him. A fleeing foe was surely 

 to be followed. But that long dark shape 

 crawling at the stranger's heels that looked 

 formidable and very mysterious. The beast 

 stopped, shook his head, snorted again more 

 loudly, and drew back those few paces which 

 he had advanced. Perhaps it was just as 

 well not to be too bold in interrogating the 

 unknown. After a few moments of hesita- 

 tion he wheeled aside, lifted his massive and 



