292 HUNTING WITH THE ESKIMOS 



backed up against it and kept the dogs off with low- 

 ered heads and frequent charges, always backing to 

 the boulder to protect their rear. 



They were the first musk-oxen of my experience 

 and they struck me as the most peculiar animals in 

 appearance I had ever seen. Their long hair hung 

 down and dragged in the snow, leaving a trail where 

 they had walked on either side of their tracks. In 

 color dark brown, with great shaggy, powerful heads 

 armed with thick horns, close together at the top and 

 curving low down on either side, heavy, curly mane, 

 short legs they had the appearance both of bison 

 and mountain sheep, with some of the characteristics 

 of each. For a little while I watched their method of 

 fighting the dogs, then raised my rifle and gave each 

 a shot behind the shoulder. I was very close to them 

 when I fired and both animals were killed instantly. 



I may say here that for either long or short range 

 shooting, the high-power, small-bore, sporting rifle, 

 carrying a good weight, soft-nosed, jacketed bullet, is, 

 in my experience, the most effective and satisfactory 

 weapon. I have done rapid shooting always with 

 killing effect at many hundred yards with such a 

 weapon, and when big game is vitally hit, it cannot 

 escape. 



The instant the musk-oxen dropped, all of the dogs 

 were on top of them, and would have torn them to 

 pieces had the Eskimos not driven them off with their 

 whips. These were two very large old bulls, with 

 magnificent heads, trophies alone worth all my hard 

 trip from Greenland. 



