248 WITH GUN AND GUIDE 



which were in fair condition, besides a hundred or 

 more that years ago were abandoned and allowed to 

 go to ruin. These animals have tunneled the ground, 

 built houses, dammed streams, and changed water- 

 courses wherever and whenever their fancy pleased. 

 They here have an abundance of food of just the kind 

 they most love, and now, as there is a close time upon 

 them and no one is permitted to trap them, they are 

 increasing in number very fast. 



The marsh also makes a splendid feeding ground for 

 the caribou, and their tracks are seen everywhere. We 

 were told that the wolverine is the caribou's deadly 

 enemy, and Kibbee has never yet trapped one without 

 finding caribou hair in its stomach. 



It takes two wolverines to bring one of the big 

 animals down ; one worries him in front and the 

 other in his rear. They keep at him until he loses his 

 head, and runs about in a circle across which the 

 gluttonous wolverines will cut short corners and nab 

 him behind, finally hamstringing him, and thus bringing 

 him to the ground. Then his finish is speedy and sure. 



The deer up here have a hard time of it with the 

 coyotes. In the spring time, when the deer are feeble 

 and lean, and the winter's crust of snow becomes 

 weakened by the presaging spring weather, the coyote 

 will startle them into making a few running jumps. 

 The crust gives way, the deer are stalled, and the 

 coyote gets his belly full of meat. 



