Moose -Hunting in Canada. 199 



you to go out for a walk, he will say, " Let us take a cruise around 

 somewhere.'' Accordingly, we trudged off over the soft, yielding 

 surface of the bog, and, taking advantage of some stunted bushes, 

 crossed to the opposite side, so as to be well down wind in case any 

 animal should be on it. The Indian then ascended to the top of the 

 highest pine-tree he could find, taking my glasses with him, and had 

 a good look all over the barren. There was not a thing to be seen. 

 We then passed through a small strip of wood, and came out upon 

 another plain, and there, on ascending a tree to look round, the 

 Indian espied two caribou feeding toward the timber. We had to 

 wait some little time till they got behind an island of trees, and then, 

 running as fast as the soft nature of the ground would permit, we 

 contrived to get close up to them just as they entered the thick 

 woods, and, after an exciting stalk of about half an hour, I managed 

 to kill both. 



Having performed the obsequies of the chase upon the two cari- 

 bou, we returned to our calling-place. By this time it was about 

 noon ; the sun was blazing down with almost tropical heat. We had 

 been awake the greater part of the night, and had done a hard 

 morning's work, and felt a decided need for refreshment. In a few 

 minutes we had lighted a little fire, put the kettle on to boil, and set 

 the moose kidneys, impaled on sharp sticks, to roast by the fire ; and 

 with fresh kidneys, good strong tea, plenty of sugar and salt, and 

 some hard biscuit, I made one of the most sumptuous breakfasts 

 it has been my lot to assist at. 



Breakfast over, I told the Indian to go down to camp and bring 

 up the other men to assist in cutting up and smoking the meat. As 

 soon as he had departed, I laid myself out for a rest. I shifted my 

 bed — that is to say, my heap of dried bracken and pine-tops — under 

 the shadow of a pine, spread my blanket out, and lay down to smoke 

 the pipe of peace in the most contented frame of mind that a man 

 can ever hope to enjoy in this uneasy and troublesome world. I 

 had suffered from cold and from hunger — I was now warm and well 

 fed. I was tired after a hard day's work and long night's vigil, and 

 was thoroughly capable of enjoying that greatest of all luxuries — 

 sweet repose after severe exercise. The day was so warm that the 

 shade of the trees fell cool and grateful, and I lay flat on my back, 

 smoking my pipe, and gazing up through the branches into a per- 



