96 HUNTING CAMPS. 



As we neared the pond we saw two sizable stags, 

 but neither good enough to shoot. After a while the 

 weather cleared and became glorious, the camp was 

 comfortable, and in fact everything went well with 

 us with one exception I was beginning to be very 

 uneasy about securing a big stag. I had at that time 

 seen seventeen, and shot the best one of them, but 

 he was no more than a fair specimen. While in this 

 camp we hunted one day in the lower country, which 

 was full of deer travelling south, for the autumn migra- 

 tion was by no means at an end. The courting season 

 was over, however, for we often saw three or four large 

 stags feeding in amity with does round them. 



All this time we never had a dull moment, and rarely 

 went out without seeing either does or stags. We were 

 often able to approach within one hundred yards, and 

 many hours were spent watching the deer through the 

 telescope. The average stag seemed to carry some 

 twenty to twenty-five points, but of all we had yet seen 

 not one presented two good brows, though a couple of 

 them appeared to carry a number of points. But, as far 

 as caribou are concerned, points mean very little. For 

 instance, we picked up a cast antler showing fifteen 

 points on one brow alone, and yet this was a poor and 

 weakly-grown horn. 



In all directions deer-paths intersected the marshes, 

 and we came upon some very large tracks. But a 

 large track is by no means to be depended on as 

 indicating a good head. 



The 28th of October was a beautiful day, clear and 

 brilliant, with a north-west wind and a covering of 

 light snow lying over the face of the country. I had 

 arranged that Frank Wells and Arnold should again 



