304 MUSK-OX CHASE. 



" Unfortunately, just as we rose over the crest of the 

 hill the band saw us, and immediately took to flight, 

 racing up the steep sides of the valley with extraor- 

 dinary swiftness. One of the herd, a large ' bull,' for 

 a moment was brought to a stand by an almost per- 

 pendicular rock, from which he slipped back on 

 attempting to scale its slippery sides. The distance 

 which divided us was about two hundred and fifty 

 yards. I therefore raised my rifle, and at the report 

 the animal seemed to stagger, but recovered himself 

 immediately, and disappeared behind some projecting 

 rocks. My companions were meanwhile engaged with 

 other members of the herd, as I could hear distant 

 shots. I lost no time in gaining the place at which I 

 had seen the musk-ox disappear, and to my surprise I 

 discovered a passage leading through the rocks, and 

 issuing at the other end in another small valley similar 

 to that I had left. I looked eagerly round in quest of 

 my game, and presently espied him making the best of 

 his way among some boulders towards the top of the 

 ridge which hemmed in the valley. I immediately 

 gave chase, as I perceived that the animal was evi- 

 dently wounded, and here and there on the stones I 

 observed that the trail was marked with blood. I 

 therefore held on, and I soon found that I was over- 

 hauling the beast, which now walked more slowly and 

 occasionally stopped altogether. When I got within 

 about three hundred yards, he seemed to be aware, for 

 the first time, that I was following him. He attempted 



