VII A MOVE TO THE WEST AND BERING SEA 121 



unconcernedly at us in the bidarki. We could not approach 

 within 300 yards of the shore without getting out to wade 

 and carry the bidarki, I tried wading towards the caribou in 

 hopes of getting within decent range of them, but as the 

 wind was blowing every way except the right way, they soon 

 winded me and made off. Shortly afterwards, having carried 

 the bidarki ashore, we carefully reconnoitred all the low ground 

 near the shore in the hopes of seeing more caribou, as the 

 meat question was getting rather serious with us on board 

 the Alice. I caught sight of what appeared to be a single 

 caribou moving in an open glade which was surrounded by 

 dense alders and situated on the slope of a hill about a mile 

 from where we stood. I pointed out the animal to Nicolai 

 who said, " Me think big caribou all right." Before I could 

 bring the glasses to bear on the beast, it disappeared into the 

 alders and apparently lay down. We decided to make a 

 detour and come over the top of the hill, whence we might 

 get a good view of the open glade below us. Moving fast, 

 we soon reached this spot. The mosquitoes were terribly 

 numerous and vindictive here, and compelled me to put on my 

 mosquito net and a pair of leather gauntlets. Nothing being 

 visible from the brow of the hill, and the wind being 

 favourable, I determined to crawl through the thick alders 

 and make my way into the open glade on the other side. 

 Sending the native about 50 yards from me on my left, we 

 both advanced cautiously, making as little noise as possible. 

 I had not gone more than 30 yards when I heard a peculiar 

 grunting noise, but being slightly deaf, was unable to locate 

 the exact direction from whence it came. I remained 

 stationary for a minute, listening, but could not hear the noise 

 repeated. I then moved forward a few yards, and this time 

 the noise was so loud that I knew it was coming from only 



