THE FIRST MUSK-OX 221 



weaker than my left) going snow-blind by the time I got 

 within shot of the musk-oxen. 



And as I reached the bottom of each ridge it seemed to 

 me I could not struggle to the top, even though a thousand 

 musk-oxen awaited my coming. I was in a dripping 

 perspiration, and had dropped my capote and cartridge- 

 belt, after thrusting half a dozen cartridges into my trou- 

 sers pockets, and my nine -pound 45.90 weighed thirty. 

 I hardly knew whether I were going up ridges or down 

 ridges. Everything waltzed about me. I ran on and on in 

 a sort of stupor, until, as I got to the top of a little ridge, 

 I saw two musk-oxen about a hundred yards ahead of and 

 running easily though directly from me. And then the 

 blood surged through my veins, the mist cleared from 

 my eyes, and the rocks stopped whirling about me, for 

 there, within range, was my quarry. I swung my rifle into 

 position and dropped on my knee for surer aim. Heav- 

 ens ! my hand shook so that the front sight travelled all 

 over the horizon, and my heart thumped against my side 

 as though it would burst. I had sense enough left to real- 

 ize my shot might mean success or failure for I felt my 

 force was nearly spent. 



For a moment I rested to get my breath and the 

 musk-oxen were still going from me and then another 

 attempt the fore sight for an instant held true another 

 second's breathing a quick aim and I pressed the trig- 

 ger. What a feeling of exultation as I saw my quarry 

 stagger and then drop ! I was dizzy with delight. I gave 

 vent to a yell, which, together with the report of my rifle, 

 sent the other musk-ox into a wild gallop. It turned 

 sharply to the left and went over a ridge, with me fol- 

 lowing on a run, all the while endeavoring to throw an- 

 other cartridge into my rifle barrel. But the excessive 

 cold, aided probably by my excited action, handicapped 

 the mechanism, and the shell jammed. 



