A HUNTER'S CAMP-FIRES 



dropped dead at the fourth shot. After circling about us for 

 about ten minutes the 3^ounger bulls trotted away through the 

 gap in a mass. This bull carried antlers forty-five and forty- 

 six inches in length, twenty - four and one - half inch spread, 

 and with forty -one points. We cut out the tenderloin, and 

 started back to camp in a depressing drizzle. 



Modesty was not one of the few virtues which Mac possessed, 

 and from the beginning of the hunt it had been rather galling 

 to both Howe and me to hear from him never-ending accounts 

 of his wonderful and never-failing marksmanship. He also 

 showed perfect candor in discussing any misses which we might 

 make from time to time at various distances. Knowing well 

 that practically all these Indians are miserable shots, I had 

 been patiently waiting my chance to show MacClusky in his 

 true colors. En route to camp this chance suddenly came 

 in the form of a young bull caribou which appeared through 

 the drizzle one hundred and fifty yards up the slope, and which 

 we needed for meat in camp. I passed the carbine to Mac, 

 and told him to make good. The Indian looked suspiciously 

 at me, at the firearm, and at the caribou. Then, instead of 

 shooting from the spot, he cautiously started to crawl toward 

 the game, while I sat down behind som'e bushes and took out 

 the field-glasses. 



The caribou, which had been lying down, spotted the stalker 

 before he had progressed very far, and being young and un- 

 sophisticated, arose to its feet, stretched leisurely, and, con- 

 sumed with the curiosity of the inexperienced, walked down to 

 within twenty-five yards of where Mac was attempting to 

 appear very small behind a diminutive bush. Head on, it 

 gazed intently at the bush for fully five minutes, and then 

 turned broadside to the aiming Indian. At this moment the 

 report of the carbine rang out through the drizzle, and the bull 

 galloped along the mountain-side with one hind leg broken not 

 far above the hoof. After struggling along for several hun- 



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