A CARIBOO BUCK. 107 



moss were dried up by a scorching sun, which blazed 

 with tropic heat in a cloudless sky. The voyageurs 

 had felt the inconvenience of this, and would have felt 

 it more but that the nights fortunately were cool, and 

 enabled them to repose in comfort. 



It was the midday halt, and the party, according to 

 their usual habit, had landed upon a shelving bank, 

 where the tall grass and foliage seemed to offer a refuge 

 from the suffocating heat. Just as the camp fire was 

 kindled, a rushing noise was heard among the trees 

 behind; and on looking round, the hunters beheld a 

 cariboo buck bounding along with great speed. Jake 

 fired, and for an instant the buck faltered in his course ; 

 but recovering almost immediately, he disappeared 

 among the myriad stems of the forest. 



" Kim along, young fellurs ! " cried Jake ; " he won't 

 go far with that pill in his innards." 



So saying, the old hunter rose, and followed in the 

 track of the buck with long strides, which the youths 

 had no little difficulty in keeping pace with. 



For some distance the tracks were plainly marked, 

 as the ground was open and free from brushwood. 

 Here the hoof-marks were distinctly visible. But 

 presently the party found themselves descending a 

 slight incline which sloped towards a thick entangled 

 swamp, where the trees grew densely and were covered 

 with usnea, which gave a hoary and venerable air to 

 the woods. 



Despite the keenest scrutiny, all traces of the animal 



