116 THE BARREN-GROUND CARIBOU 



the others ; fur clad, as all the Indians were, in 

 outer garment of Eskimo kind — a pull-over, shirt- 

 like, hooded upper garment, and trousers reaching 

 below the knee — all native-tanned Caribou hide 

 with the long thick hair outside. On our feet 

 moccasins— that finest of light footwear for fast 

 travelling and stealthy hunting. 



I took down my rifle and we filed out of the 

 cabin and started off. 



Outside the night-sky was dull and grey, but a 

 fair light was thrown on the snow by the cloud- 

 obscured moon, which was full. 



Led by Gewgewsh, one of the best and most 

 active hunters in the territory, the party trailed 

 ahead in single file, at great speed and without 

 any seeming effort. With unerring knowledge of 

 66 lie " of land, and every nature of obstacle to 

 avoid, those Indians chose the easiest and 

 quickest line of travel to a definite objective ahead. 

 As they travelled one could hear the low tones of 

 their hurried laughter and guttural speech, for 

 excitement was intense among the Indians. 

 They were keen sportsmen, keen as children on 

 an exciting game, and above all they had been 

 talking and dreaming of Caribou for weeks, and 

 they knew that to-day they would kill and have 

 meat at last, and after a summer of fish-food 

 their palates, and the palates of their squaws and 

 papooses, were languishing for fresh meat. 



About 5.30 a.m. the party reached a chain of 

 small lakes which it was necessary to cross ; 

 unmapped lakes that linked up with Reindeer 

 Lake further south. Those lakes had a strong 

 current running through them, and because of this 



