BVTTLE OF THE STAGS. 173 



West Pond, and the 'tickles' leading into the bay at 

 Pilley's Island. 



" But near us to the eastward, within a mile, 

 was to me a much more interesting picture. On the 

 plain below us were more than a hundred caribou, 

 moving about among the little moss-covered knolls, 

 rocks and tufts of scraggy evergreens of fir and juniper. 

 As I brought my field-glass to bear upon the scene, I 

 beheld a picture which I shall never forget. About 

 half a mile down the slope, in a small open marsh, 

 were at least fifty caribou gathered in a crowd, and 

 right in the centre was a battle royal between several 

 great stags for supremacy and possession of the favored 

 does. The battle seemed to be waged principally 

 against one great kingly-looking fellow with magnifi- 

 cent antlers. The does with their fawns and the year- 

 lings (prickets) and younger stags had apparently 

 formed a ring or circle around the half-dozen or more 

 fierce combatants in their great struggle for the sur- 

 vival of the fittest the does venturing in near them 

 now and then seemingly to encourage the fighters by 

 their presence. The clashing of their horns could be 

 easily heard as they plunged and reared at each other 

 in deadly strife. The weaker gradually succumbed 

 one by one and were eventually driven off, leaving 

 the 'king' master of the situation. But his glory was 



