148 FOREST LIFE IN ACADIE. 



rocks and bushes, though pointed to the exact spot, and 

 knowing that they were little more than one hundred 

 yards distant. At last I saw the flapping of one of their 

 ears, and gradually the whole contour of the recumbent 

 animal nearest to me became evident. 



I now did a very foolish thing, and was determined to 

 have my shot at the nearest cariboo, lying down. The 

 animal was in a hollow, deeply bedded in the snow, so 

 that very little of the back could be seen, and I aimed at 

 the lowest part visible above the snow. I pulled — a spirt 

 of snow showed that the dazzling surface had deceived 

 me, and the bullet ricochetted harmlessly over the back 

 of the cariboo. 



Up they jumped, five of them, apparently rising from 

 all directions around us, and, after a brief stare, made off 

 in long graceful bounds. I at once seized the old musket 

 which the Indian carried, but the hammer descended on 

 harmless copper — the cap was useless. "This is bad," 

 thought I ; for I hate missing the first shot on a hunt- 

 ing excursion, particularly with game to which one is 

 not accustomed, as there is still more fear of becoming 

 unsteady, and missing, on the next chance presenting 

 itself; and I watched the cariboo with longing eyes, and 

 a feeling of great disappointment, as they settled down 

 into a long, swinging trot, and wound in file over the 

 barren, towards the line of forest on the north side. As 

 for the hungry-looking Indian, I did not know whether 

 to have at him on the score of his excessive ugliness, or 

 for not carrying better caps for his gun. 



" Get back to camp, Noel, as quick as you can," said 

 I ; "it will be dark in half an hour. Why didn't you 

 put up the cariboo on their legs for me before I fired ? " 





