294 NEWFOUNDLAND 



shanks for moccasins. About one o'clock we resumed our 

 journey, John carrying the big head, and Steve the thirty- 

 nine pointer, which we now recovered. Exceptional luck 

 had favoured us on this little trip to Sylvester, but more 

 good fortune was in store before the evening closed 

 in. About 3 p.m. I spied a large company of deer, with 

 a very big master - stag, which after some discussion we 

 decided to spare. Then we ran right on the top of a 

 fine stag with three does, about two miles from Shoe Hill 

 and close to the southern end of Keskitpegawi, and whilst 

 I was watching these, Steve spied no fewer than three 

 scattered companies upon a hill to the east, about two miles 

 away. One troop was exactly on the sky-line, and with the 

 aid of the glass I could see that it contained an exceptionally 

 fine stag with splendid tops. Evening was closing in, and 

 the walk would take us at least five miles out of our way 

 from camp, wherefore I sent John on the road home, and 

 with Steve relieved of his pack, made all speed for the hills. 

 The walking here was splendid — a great deal better than 

 the principal streets of Montreal — so we made good time, in 

 spite of a considerable circuit to gain the wind, and to avoid 

 scattered deer which appeared in all directions. 



When we arrived at the ridge and looked for our deer 

 they had moved, so we worked up-wind for some distance 

 before we struck them travelling over the sky-line towards 

 Kesoquit. Two of the does looked scared and kept running 

 a few yards, so they may have caught a glimpse of us 

 as we ascended the hill, but the stag was very active and 

 would not let them run, and thus played into our hands. The 

 country, however, was perfectly bare and open, and I could 

 not, even after much running and manoeuvring, get nearer 

 than 200 yards, at which distance the master-stag offered me 



