PREPARING FOR A SHOT. 89 



from the tree. I guess I knows now what they ur," 

 he continued: "them's bufflers wood buffler at that. 

 Hist ! " he exclaimed, seizing hold of Gaultier, who was 

 pressing forward from the shade of the trees in order 

 to have a good look ; " take kear yer not seen ; them 

 bufflers ain't like the plain bufflers they can see and 

 smell like all creation. I'll tell yer what we'll do : we'll 

 jest slip up the river agin in the canoe, and cross over 

 to t'other side. I guess we'll take the critters in the 

 rear. Anyways, that's our only chance of a shot." 



The party silently returned to the canoe, which was 

 placed in the water with the greatest care, so as not 

 to make the least noise. All then embarked, and hug- 

 ging the shore in order to avail themselves of the 

 sombre shadows of the overhanging trees in case the 

 bison might shift their position and come within view, 

 they reascended the Athabasca for about a quarter of 

 a mile. The canoe was then steered to the opposite 

 bank; and the hunters, taking their rifles, plunged 

 noiselessly amid the dim shades of the forest. 



Just here the woods were open, so that they had no 

 difficulty in proceeding quickly and without noise over 

 the mossy ground, which was thickly carpeted with 

 the fallen needles of the pines. Here and there a vista, 

 torn through the trees by some fierce winter tempest, 

 afforded a view of the river, which reflected the mild 

 light of the moon in long streams of silver, edged by 

 the sombre shadows thrown by the opposite forest. A 

 light mist covered the expanse of water, giving a 



