198 SPORT US' XORTH AMERICA. 



the snow had a bhiish tint, and were as friable as 

 flour. This was a proof that we were ou the trail 

 of the caribous. 



Suddenly Monai halted, and kneeling down, dex- 

 terously untied the strings which fastened his snow- 

 shoes to his feet, so that he could walk more quietly. 

 Mr. Howard made me a sign to approach, and whis- 

 pered : — " My good friend, one more last word of 

 advice, don't lose sight of me ; follow close behind 

 me, and make no noise. The caribous are close 

 to us." 



We all undid our snow-shoes, and slung them over 

 our shoulders. Monai set his right foot upon the 

 snow and pressed it gently, repeating the operation 

 with the left. Mr. Howard followed in the same 

 footmarks, and I trod scrupulously in the steps of 

 Mr. Howard. Anj'one following us would have 

 supposed that a single man had preceded him. Pre- 

 sently Moniii quietly lay down upon his belly, and 

 we followed his example. He remained so long in 

 this position that I raised my head to see what was 

 going on, when the Indian, whom nothing seemed 

 to escape, turned towards me with a menacing look, 

 and Mr. Howard gave me a kick to remind me that 

 I was in fault. 



The forest was bordered by an extent of open 

 ground, and Monai, who had sighted a caribou, was 

 waiting for an opportunity of reaching the shelter 

 of a large tree without being seen by the animal. 



