224 Caribou -Hunting. 



his snow-shoes in such a manner as to hold him prisoner for the time; 

 and often, in trying to work clear, he gets his snow-shoes tangled 

 and takes a header into the snow, and his misery is complete. More- 

 over, the chances are ten to one that, while he is helplessly flound- 

 ering in the snow, he hears the sharp crack of his companion's rifle, 

 who has stolen a march on him and is up with the game ; and then 

 good-bye to any sport that day, for even if he could get his gun dry 

 and serviceable again, his nerves are so unstrung that he could not 

 hit the side of a house, much less the swift caribou. 



On our way to the barren we saw several fresh tracks of caribou, 

 but had not discovered their beds, as the Indians term the depressions 

 in the snow made by the caribou when lying down to rest. After 

 inspecting indications of that kind, the Indian can form a correct 

 opinion of the time elapsed since the beds were occupied, and is 

 guided thereby in his decision as to whether it is wise to follow up 

 the tracks leading therefrom. 



Silent as mutes, we tramped along in Indian file ; but if the 

 Indians did not use their tongues, their eyes were not idle, and the 

 slightest caribou sign was instantly discovered and examined. We 

 had nearly reached the barren without finding any fresh tracks, and 

 I was getting a little impatient, and sorry that we had not gone to 

 the big barren, as first suggested by Sebatis, as it was in that direc- 

 tion he saw the places where the caribou had cropped off the " old 

 men's beards." 



. " Little barren handy now," said Sebatis, with his usual abrupt- 

 ness. 



"Where is Tomah?" I inquired, having just discovered the 

 absence of that worthy. 



"Where's Tomah, sure enough?" echoed Sebatis. "I don't 

 miss him myself only just now." 



He had vanished like a "spirit of eld," and as where he had 

 gone, or on what errand, was past finding out, we made our way 

 quietly to the edge of the barren without him. 



Long and earnestly Sebatis scanned the barren with his search- 

 ing gaze, then ventured out a few paces, stopped suddenly, and 

 beckoned me to him. 



"Hist! don't make noise," he whispered. "Caribou somewhere 

 on this barren ; you see 'im track just 'longside big rock, then little 



