CARIBOO HUNTING. 161 



until they come to a place where they have an inclination 

 to loiter and browse, are apt to lead one a dance for many 

 hours, particularly when they have taken a notion to 

 shift their country. Ha ! there goes one of them ; his 

 black muzzle and dusky back just showing above the 

 bushes at the further end of the swamp — and another, 

 and another. " Bang '' goes a barrel a-piece from each 

 of us (we are in echelon), and the nearest one falters, 

 either wounded or confused, as they sometimes become 

 by the firing. He is again making off, and passing an 

 opening ; the other guns floundering forward in hopes of 

 getting nearer, when, steadying myself, and taking good 

 aim, he falls instantaneously to my second barrel. John, 

 with a yell, rushes up, and getting astride of the 

 struggling beast, quickly terminates his existence with 

 his long hunting-knife. It was a fine doe cariboo, with 

 a very dark hide, and in fair condition. The others 

 having never been fairly within shot, we were satisfied, 

 and after the usual process returned to camp, our path 

 being enlivened by the bright rays of a lovely moon. 

 We all agreed that no finer sport could be obtained 

 amongst the larger game than cariboo-shooting. This 

 deer is so wary, such a constant and fast traveller, and 

 so quick in getting up and bounding out of range when 

 started in the woods, that an aim as rapid and true as in 

 cock-shooting is required ; and, when he is down, every 

 pound of the meat repays for backing it out of the woods, 

 being, in my opinion, far finer wild meat than any other 

 venison I have tasted. 



The next day I walked with the other Indian (Noel) 

 to the Buctouktdegun plains, some ten miles distant from 

 our camp — great plains of miles and miles in extent, 



