FOX HUNTING ON RACKETS. 219 



hungry. Vowing vengeance, home I started, awaiting the next 

 pleasant day for another hunt. 



The next day, though more or less snowy and otherwise uncom- 

 fortable, we went out to the island with another load of wood. I 

 took my gun, hoping to see some signs of game, and started a little 

 ahead of the loaded sleds which soon caught up to me, when we 

 proceeded along together. It seemed as if we never went so slowly, 

 and though the loads were not large, the previous day's thaw ren- 

 dered it treacherous travelling. We plodded on cautiously, beguiling 

 the way with conversation until within a short distance of the island, 

 when sharp eyes detected, on the slope of a low hillock ( of which 

 there were several), among the stones and rocks, a small moving 

 object. A few steps nearer decided the question of what it was, and 

 no doubt remained in my mind but that my friend the fox was mak- 

 ing another tour of the island, perhaps searching for me for the fun 

 of another chase. Several crows, or rather ravens, hovered occasion- 

 ally over him, and vented their spite in repeated dashes and dabs at 

 his head, wishing, no doubt, that they could enjoy a good meal from 

 his carcass, or refresh themselves with his eyes ; but no such fortune 

 for them occurred, and we saw him slowly disappear over the ridge, 

 trotting in the direction of the komatik and ourselves, whom he 

 evidently had not yet seen. Seizing my gun, which was lying on 

 top of one of the loads, I started on the run to head him off and 

 try and get a shot. 



It was hard work running on such snow, and I sank to the knees 

 at nearly every step ; but passing over the ridge I saw the fox 

 climbing the opposite slope ahead of me. He had turned, appar- 

 ently, and started off in a new direction ; so I started off after him. 

 Soon he disappeared over this second ridge, and when half-way up 

 the bank, chancing to turn around, I saw a fox just crossing the 

 path by which I had come. For a moment, and only a moment, I 

 hesitated which one to follow — then, turning, I started for the 

 nearest and one last seen. The fox used only three feet (the other 

 bleeding from some trap wound) and did not run fast ; yet I was 

 obliged to do my best to keep up with and not lose sight ot him. 

 At last I gained perceptibly. I could see his black tail and stern — 



