272 RECENT HUNTING TRIPS. 



Although we had now but little to carry in the 

 way of provisions, except a few pounds of flour 

 and a little tea and sugar, yet the wet tarpaulin, 

 together with cooking utensils, the men's 

 blankets, a haunch of venison, and the caribou 

 head and scalp, which I had preserved, made 

 up two good loads for the men, whilst I carried 

 my own blankets, spare clothing and rifle. 



When day broke on the morning of October 

 20th the rain had stopped but the sky looked 

 dark and lowering. A strong wind was 

 blowing from the south-west, before which 

 showers of sleety rain were frequently driven 

 almost horizontally^ across the waterlogged 

 country. Early in the afternoon, however, it 

 cleared up a little, and we once more saw some 

 blue sky and caught a glimpse of the sun. 



In the course of the morning we saw several 

 small bands of caribou which, however, all got 

 our wind, as it was blowing from behind us. 

 Soon after midday we espied a large herd away 

 to our right in the middle of an open marsh. 

 We could see there was a big stag with them, 

 but as it was just then raining I could not tell 



