THE CARIBOU. 183 



York. You know it is an animal that runs with 

 inconceivable rapiclit}^ and that to approach within 

 distance you have to track it with snow shoes, those 

 huge things hanging up against the wall." Mr. 

 Howard pointed to two -immense pattens of oval 

 shape, made something in the shape of battledores. 

 These"shoes enable the Indians and trappers to keep 

 their footing on the snow. " You'll not find it easy 

 lid. manage these when you first put them on, but in 

 a shoii; time you'll surmount every difficulty, no 

 fear. You know that my Indian friend Monai has 

 promised to let us know as soon as the weather is 

 favourable for hunting the caribou, and as nothing 

 can be more propitious for this sport than the snow 

 which is now upon the ground, I feel certain we 

 shall soon see something of him, this very evening, 

 maybe. The camp of the tribe is now pitched 

 about five miles off, and an Indian never forfeits his 

 •word." 



The words had scarcely left his lips, when the 

 barking of the dogs announced the 'approach of 

 strange footsteps. A moment afterwards a sharp 

 whistle was heard, and the dogs changed their 

 notes of warning to those -of joy, proving the arrival 

 of an intimate friend. " Here's Monai ! " cried Mr. 

 Howard ; " talk of the , eh, my boy ? My dogs 



never to attack man, it is not prudent to depend too much upon its 

 timidity. The caribou is very excellent eating, as delicate as the kid, 

 aud as juicy as the hare. 



