LABEADOR JOUEXxVL 61 



soon shift their ground; but not tinding them dis- 

 posed to move, and the frost increasing, we at- 

 tempted to gain their right, but they discerned us 

 and gallopped avcay till they came upon the ice 

 in the harbour; where thev lav down, about three 

 hundred yards from the shore. There I flattered 

 myself that the dog would have been a match for 

 one of them, and I divided the people in order 

 to surround the herd, but they were too cmming 

 for us. On their rising, the dog was slipped, when 

 he soon ran in and separated them, but they joined 

 again presently; and there being a])out six inches 

 of light snow upon the ice, with a thin shell, frozen 

 on the top, the dog struck so deep in, and cut his 

 legs so much, that he was at length obliged to de- 

 sist from the pursuit. Never did I see creatures 

 more sensible of the advantage they had, or make 

 better use of it. At first starting they ran up wind, 

 and keeping as close together as possible, they 

 kicked u]i such a shower of frozen snow, that I 

 could scarcely discern the dog when he was near 

 them; and wondered at his resolution in continu- 

 ing the chase. When they came near the shore, 

 they wheeled gently round, well knowing, that they 

 could not run there near so well as on the ice, and 

 might l)e in danger of an ambuscade. As the dog 

 abated of his speed, they diminished iheii's; and 

 when he gave up the pm^suit, they ran no longer, 

 but turned about and looked at liiiii. On (>l)S('rving 

 our attempts to surround them, they trotted away 

 upon the iee towards Great Caribou, passing be- 

 tween Eyre Island and Little rari])ou. This herd 



