THE CARIBOU. 199 



To see liim crawling along on his bell_y you would 

 have taken him for a snail, ,ancl we all endeavoured 

 to imitate him as closely as possible. At last, in 

 my turn, I saw some caribous. There was a herd 

 of about twenty, some tearing away the bark from 

 the trees for their breakfast, and evidently enjoying 

 themselves, whilst others were engaged in their 

 morning toilette, licking their fur Avith their tongues, 

 and combing it with their antlers. All, with the 

 exception of the largest animal of the herd, seemed 

 quite unconscious of the approach of an enemy ; 

 but the old bull looked very much disturbed ; he 

 kept his head up, and cast around him the most 

 anxious and suspicious looks, pricking up his ears, 

 distending his nostrils, and sniffing the air violently. 

 Moniii kept him in sight, and advanced only when 

 he turned his head, we imitating his movements 

 faithfully. Ever}' sportsman who reads this will 

 understand the state of anxiety and excitement in 

 which I was, and how the minutes seemed hours. 



At last, we were all three behind the wished-for 

 tree. Mr. Howard (scarcely opening his lips) gave 

 me to understand that I was to aim at the nearest 

 caribou on my side ; he was to take the bull, 

 which was about eight yards off ; whilst Moniii 

 was to keep his shot in reserve to help us in case 

 of necessity. 



We both fired at once, and I was just about to 

 spring up to see what had been the result of my 



