2io OX SNOW-SHOES TO THE BARREN GROUNDS 



Late in the afternoon, from the top of a ridge, we 

 viewed a small herd of eight caribou on a lake below us r 

 and I witnessed the first practical demonstration of the 

 reason why the Indians are such unsuccessful hunters. 

 On the discovery of the caribou the dogs had been driven 

 back just under the brow of the hill, where they were left 

 in charge of half our number, and the rest of us prepared 

 for the attempt to get some meat. The wind was blowing 

 from east to west, and I was surprised to see two of the 

 Indians going off to the east side of the caribou. 



I circled well to the west, though not too far away 

 to keep Beniah, who was on my right, in sight. I had 

 worked my way down to the lake, and was making a good 

 stalk, with every chance of getting within nice range, 

 when the shouting of the Indians and yelping of the dogs 

 attracted my attention, and, lo and behold ! coming down 

 the hill straight for the caribou, and in plain view, were 

 the dogs and the Indians, some riding on the sledges, 

 some running, but all yelling and bearing down on the 

 caribou. Was ever a greater shock visited upon the 

 nerves of a still-hunter ! It simply petrified me. I 

 stopped and stared and rubbed my eyes to make sure 

 that those running, shouting Indians were actually the 

 ones I had left a few moments before trembling in antici- 

 pation of meat to eat. 



Of course the caribou started to run. They circled 

 around the lake for a time (showing when they trotted 

 such knee and hock action as would put the hackney to 

 shame), all the Indians and the dogs chasing them mean- 

 while, and finally turned off over the ridge, where an Ind- 

 ian who had lingered behind was lucky enough to kill 

 one. 



I was so disgusted at the display that I sat down and 

 pondered why God in His wisdom had made these men, 



