250 HUNTING CAMPS. 



The course was at last clear, so, abandoning without 

 regret the attitude of the serpent, which is exceedingly 

 irksome in nine inches of water, we closed in rapidly, 

 and a few moments found us lying panting against the 

 soft mossy side of that most grateful hummock. Before 

 I looked over, I knew that we were near to our quarry ; 

 the peculiar clicking noise that caribou make with their 

 hoofs was startlingly distinct, as well as the suck of 

 their feeding. As I peered over the top of the 

 hummock my eyes met those of the doe, with no more 

 than eight paces between us. Her companions were 

 all round her, and she at once gave the warning half- 

 cough, half-snort. As they ran off, look as I would, I 

 could not see the stag. I imagined he might be behind, 

 but no, there he was at last, not in the marsh by the 

 pool, as I had expected, but standing apart about forty 

 yards away to the left. He was startled, but uncertain 

 in which direction to break, and with his head turned 

 from me. 



He sprang forward as I fired, fled with gigantic 

 strides across the savanne, and the spruces shut him in. 

 At the same instant I caught sight of Ed tearing 

 across to the right, as it seemed, in pursuit of the does. 

 I ran to the left and immediately overtook the stag. 

 He had come to a standstill, and was swaying as he 

 stood. A second shot passed through his heart, and 

 I was soon beside him, admiring the massive round 

 horns of a very heavy head. 



While thus pleasingly engaged, I heard a shot, 

 followed by others, and running over the ridges towards 

 the sound, I soon saw, about three hundred yards off, a 

 big stag twisting round and round, finally to fall with a 

 crash among some stones on the top of the hard ground 



