"OMINGMONG!" THE MUSK-OX! 291 



restriction was a highly necessary one. In running 

 over their native hills and rocks no white man can 

 hope to compete with them. Unless some such re- 

 striction were therefore placed upon them I knew 

 full well that in their eagerness they would outstrip 

 me in the chase, and I would arrive only to find all 

 the animals killed and would be robbed of the satis- 

 faction of securing with my own gun my own 

 trophies. I did not propose to have this happen. I 

 had come far and remained long in the Arctic for 

 the purpose chiefly of personally securing musk-ox 

 trophies, and did not intend at the last moment to 

 be thwarted in my object. When I saw them get- 

 ting their guns out, therefore, I told them very forc- 

 ibly that I must hold them to their agreement, that 

 I alone must shoot all the musk-oxen. 



They were very sulky at first, but finally replaced 

 their guns in the cases. In great haste and con- 

 fusion everything was made ready. Three of the 

 Eskimos cut one dog loose from each of their teams, 

 and these dashed away on the trail of the musk-oxen, 

 putting new life into those attached to the light 

 sledges, though the snow was soft and deep. For 

 a few hundred yards our speed was beyond belief. 

 The dogs were wild for the hunt. 



The three dogs that were first cut loose overtook 

 the musk-oxen and attacked them by biting at their 

 heels. When we had come within fifty yards of the 

 animals, Eiseeyou cut his eight dogs loose, and the 

 pack brought the game to bay. There was a large 

 boulder rising above the snow and both musk-oxen 



