MOOSE DEER. 109 



locality. After tramping three miles, the Indians 

 leading, and I causing much amusement by a suc- 

 cession of catastrophes from one snow-shoe overlapping 

 the other, a halt was made, and the expression of the 

 guide spoke plainly of the vicinity of game ; without 

 questioning, we turned off to the left, still following in 

 single file. Stooping low and slowly advancing for 

 some moments, we came upon a yard but, alas ! 

 deserted ; but such had not been long the case. Our 

 dark-skinned companions were jubilant ; visions of 

 moose meat floated before them, and straight they 

 directed their steps to the place of exit, for the occu- 

 pants had winded us earlier than expected. To a 

 novice but one track appeared, yet the Indians held up 

 their four fingers to indicate that that had been the 

 number of inmates. Soon we found their informa- 

 tion correct ; for, after a pursuit of an hour and a half, 

 we perceived our game a bull, cow, and two calves 

 going over a neighbouring swell. The reason of this 

 deceptive appearance of the trail is caused by the male 

 leading, and the cow and calves in succession stepping 

 as nearly as possible in the footsteps of their pre- 

 decessors. 



Just as we supposed ourselves on the verge of 

 success, the pursued passed through a second yard, 

 easily known by the trampled state of the snow and 



