174 CARIBOU SHOOTING IN NEWFOUNDLAND. 



destined to be short lived ; little did he know that 

 there was danger near, and that his kingly head should 

 soon fall, as a specimen and trophy of the noblest of 

 his kind. It was now quite late in the afternoon, and 

 as we were about five miles from camp as the raven 

 flies, and several more by the roundabout way we were 

 obliged to take to reach our cabin, Le Buffe thought it 

 was too late to begin shooting ; the weather was mild, 

 and the deer would not travel ; better go to camp and 

 return in the morning with the whole outfit, put up 

 a temporary camp, and remain until we had filled 

 out our string of heads allowed by law. But what 

 sportsman could turn his back on such a picture with- 

 out making an attempt to secure the head of the king? 

 I suggested that we should try for it, even at the risk 

 of camping out. This was easier said than done, as 

 there were several small groups of deer between us 

 and the herd in which he was presiding, and many 

 sharp eyes and noses to be feared. Le Buffe was fear- 

 ful that if they should detect us either by sight or 

 scent we might stampede the whole party and lose all, 

 though he was willing to make the effort. 



"We started out very cautiously, creeping through 

 the low cover and keeping as well to windward of 

 them as possible, gradually getting nearer the point of 

 attack. When within about 400 yards we thought 



