2046 The Zoologist — March, 1870. 



hauled our boat on shore, and after a walk of three miles, through 

 woods and swamps, reached the foot of the hills about 4 p. M., and 

 immediately commenced cutting fire-wood and putting the old broken- 

 down "tilt" in order for camping. At that date I had not so much 

 experience in "swinging the American axe" as I have since had, and 

 therefore left that more laborious part to the Paynes, while I busied 

 myself in gathering spruce boughs for our bed, which, although not so 

 "soft as down," is a very good substitute after a hard day's fag. As 

 the locality had been occupied on previous occasions we had only to 

 ]7alch up ihe old " lilt" ; but as this domicile pro tern is an institution 

 only known to the minority of my readers, I will here describe it 

 somewhat in exienso. In front — or that part facing the fire — three 

 stout forked poles, standing equi-distant, were firmly driven into the 

 groimd, so that the forks stood about five feet from the ground, on 

 wliich rested another pole, from which, sloping backwards to the 

 ground, rested others about a foot apart; these, commencing from the 

 {ground upwards, were covered, tile-fashion, with long strips of birch 

 bark, overlapping at the ends as well as at the sides : this was kept in 

 place by other poles being placed on top, alternately between those 

 underneath the bark, and our "tilt" or camp was complete. In this 

 ])rimitive construction we were destined to spend eight consecutive 

 nights. The day following these preparations proved wet and foggy, 

 and we spent it in beaver-hunting on a neighbouring stream, and in 

 cutting fire-wood — an abundance of which is generally necessary in 

 camping out in Newfoundland, even so early in the fall as the latter 

 part of September, (or the nights are chilly. The following morning 

 proved finer, and we ascendid the liills — a rather trying undertaking 

 to those unaccustomed to such exercise. After walking five or six 

 miles the youngest Payne espied a small herd of cariboo, twenty-one 

 in number, some lying down, others quietly feeding. Now ensued the 

 "council of war." 'Ihe three younger bruthers and I were to imme- 

 diately start, keeping well to leeward of the deer, and secrete ourselves 

 behind boulders, as near the herd as it would be safe to go without 

 disturbing or even raising the suspicions of the cariboo, while the 

 elder Payne, taking one of my rifles with him, was to stalk and endea- 

 vour to drive them towards us ; and so well did he succeed that, after 

 killing two himself, only thirteen escaped. One of the younger 

 brothers also made a very successful shot, killing two stags and a doe 

 with a load of buck-shot. As an illustration of the tenacity of life in 

 the cariboo, I may mention that one old stag, after being mortally 



