46 THE GREAT NORTH-WEST 



days previously, and had been given up as lost. Besides 

 cariboo, the only game of greater size than hares and 

 grouse that we met with in this little expedition were a 

 few foxes. We were away from home nearly a month, 

 when, having collected as much meat as we could drag, 

 we returned. The meat being hard-frozen will keep all 

 the winter. It becomes so hard that it can only be cut 

 with an axe. 



Cariboo meat is coarse and flavourless, as nearly all 

 American venison is. Americans, both Yanks and 

 Canadians, praise their venison highly, supposing it to 

 be far superior to English. I suppose that not one 

 American in ten thousand, and perhaps not one in a 

 hundred thousand, has ever tasted English venison. At 

 all events, there is absolutely no comparison between the 

 two meats. It is as reasonable to compare flaccid, in- 

 ferior Australian frozen mutton with prime Southdown, 

 as to place American venison beside English. All 

 American venison is coarse. That of the cariboo, moose, 

 and wipiti resembles coarse beef. Wipiti meat is the 

 best. The word " venison " is but little used in America, 

 especially among trappers. All venison is called " meat." 

 The freezing of it certainly does not improve the quality ; 

 but it is a boon to the poor, often half-starved, people, as 

 it enables them to keep a stock when a fortunate chance 

 places it within their reach. 



During the winter I made several short excursions, 

 similar to that which I have just described, sometimes 

 having several companions, and sometimes accompanied 

 by Tom only. Tom was quite my chum, but a more 

 silent pair of friends never associated together. Hours 

 would pass without the exchange of a word, and Tom 

 was never, on any occasion, demonstrative. But he 

 suited me — for I am not a talkative man — and it is 

 evident that I suited him ; for he was always ready to 

 accompany me anywhere, and for any length of time. 

 He took all arrangements into his own hands, and made 



