A HUNTER'S PARADISE 109 



in the bushes. Like a good man he had gone to spy the 

 hill from the only point it could be properly seen, namely, 

 to the marsh on the north bank. In one minute he came 

 running back, saying — 



" Dare's a great lump of a stag above us, 'bout 300 feet." 



There was only one way up on to this high ground, and 

 that was up a well-worn caribou path, which seemed to lead 

 directly down-wind to the point where Saunders said the 

 stag was feeding. The wind was strong, and inclined to 

 shoot our taint upwards, as I found on trying it with tobacco 

 smoke. Nevertheless we decided to chance it. 



The path itself was beaten down with fresh tracks cross- 

 ing a hillside marsh. Then it became suddenly dry and 

 stony, and we wound up on to a tiny plateau with small 

 clumps of birch. 



"'Twas 'bout here he was when I seen him," was Bob's 

 remark, scarcely emitted than a loud rattle of stones pro- 

 claimed that the stag was started. Fortunately, he galloped 

 up the hill and then alongside it, giving me a full broadside. 

 I had time to see his head was large and sufficiently good, 

 without many points ; then, standing up to see him properly, 

 I put the first bullet through his right horn. The chamber 

 was immediately opened and closed, and I got in my second 

 shot just as he was tearing into a droke of birch. The 

 little missile went true, breaking both shoulders ; the stag 

 performed a complete somersault like a shot rabbit, and 

 was nearly dead when we came up to him. 



There was one thing remarkable about this deer, and that 

 was his great size ; and Saunders, who was well qualified to 

 speak on the subject, said he was the largest caribou stag 

 he had ever seen in his life. An immense brute, nearly as 

 big as a wapiti, it took all our efforts to turn him over in 



