144 THE BARREN-GROUND CARIBOU 



There then remained open, to any animal that 

 might enter the enclosure, only the narrows 

 leading into Sand Lake, where I and the camera 

 would be hidden. 



It was night when we had finished and returned 

 to camp. Camp was made snug against the 

 keen wind and bitter frost by building the usual 

 barricade of spruce boughs and snow in a half- 

 circle, backing the wind; and within the circle, 

 just beyond the length of an outstretched man, 

 a great log-fire was built to blaze merrily (and to 

 die out long after the fur-blanketed forms had 

 gone to sleep). All the ten sled-dogs were tied 

 up this night — an unusual proceeding — to keep 

 them from wandering to the traps on Philip's 

 line, and from chasing any Caribou that they 

 might scent in the night. They were then given 

 the whole of the Caribou that had been killed, 

 and twenty fish — a repast intended to keep them 

 drowsily contented and quiet on the morrow. 



The following morning we were moving about 

 camp before daylight, preparing in earnest for 

 deer-stalking. Any of the dogs that showed 

 inclination to howl or whimper was securely 

 muzzled with rope : the morning fire burned low : 

 the ordinary quiet voices of the Indians sank 

 to hushed whisperings — those precautions even 

 although our camp was well back from the shore 

 and in the shelter of forest where there was but 

 slight likelihood of smoke or sound reaching the 

 senses of any animals that might approach. 



A hide for the camera and myself was built of 

 spruce boughs on the outskirts of the point of 

 land, and commanding the lake at the entrance 



