THE CARIBOO. 35 



close upon my track, and do not for your life make the 

 slightest noise we are close on them !' 



" Sabatisie and Howard now slung their snow-shoes 

 on their backs : to prevent the crackling of the crust, 

 the Indian with his fingers broke the snow before him, 

 and placing his foot in the hole he made, quietly ad- 

 vanced Howard putting his in the track the Indian had 

 left, I mine in Howard's. By this means we proceeded 

 without the slightest noise ; and as our movements were 

 simultaneous, we should to a person in front appear as 

 one body. Our situation was anything but agreeable, 

 up to the waist in snow. The trail became every mo- 

 ment more fresh, and the eagle eye of our sagacious 

 guide pried far into the depths of the forest in front. 

 Suddenly he cast himself at full length on the snow, and 

 remained so long in that position that I innocently thrust 

 my head out of the line to see what was the matter ; but 

 the Indian glared at me with anger and contempt, and 

 Howard's sign recalled my senses. In front, the wood 

 being quite open, Sabatisie had seen the Cariboo, and 

 now made for a large pine to shelter his approach. His 

 movements, as he dragged himself along on his belly in 

 the snow, were snake-like ; and we followed, endeavoring 

 as far as possible to imitate his very interesting contor- 

 tions. At last I caught sight of the game. They were 

 a large herd of 18 or 20 some rubbing the bark from 

 the branches others performing their morning toilet, 

 licking their dark-brown, glossy jackets, and combing 



