160 FOREST LIFE IN ACADIE. 



followers, going off towards the greenwoods, distant a few 

 hundred yards, munching as he went. 



" A capital fellow is old John," said I to my comrade. 

 "Fll bet you what you like he comes back with some 

 news. I've often seen him go off in this manner whilst 

 you are eating, or resting, or smoking, and uncertain 

 what to do, and come back in half an hour or so, appa- 

 rently having learnt more of the whereabouts of the game 

 than he had when in your company during the whole 

 morning's hunt." 



"We were not detained very long, however — indeed, 

 had hardly finished the biscuit — when, on looking to- 

 wards the edge of the forest, which he had entered a few 

 minutes previously, we saw John emerge, and make his 

 ' way back to us with unusual celerity ; and, seeing there 

 was game afoot, we picked up the guns and advanced to 

 meet him. 



'' Come on," says John, "just see thre^ or four of 'em 

 walking quietly along inside the woods — didn't start 'em, 

 I guess. Be easy, now ; lots of time." And off we go 

 after John, as quietly as he would have us, and soon find 

 the track of the cariboo. John leads rapidly forward, 

 bending almost double to get a glimpse of them through 

 the branches ahead ; but no, they have left the woods, 

 and taken to the open again, and we follow into a swamp 

 thickly sprinkled with little fir trees of about our own 

 height. The bog is very wet, having never frozen, and 

 we sink up to our knees in the swamp, through the 

 wet surface-snow, withdrawing our feet and legs at each 

 step, with a noise like drawing a cork. It is hard work 

 getting along, and already we are rather out of breath ; 

 but we must keep on, for cariboo are smart walkers, and 



