26 JOURNAL OF PROCEEDINGS. 
and to the leeward of them, so proceeded to climb the steep bank 
to the plateau where the Musk Oxen were feeding. 
Nearing the top we found ourselves much out of breath 
and unsteady, so lay down at full length for a time until we had 
recovered our wind and nerve. Then crawling up the bottom 
of a little valley a short distance further, brought us to the crest 
of the hill from which vantage ground we came within full 
view, at ranges from only sixty to one hundred yards of the 
huge dark forms of nine Musk Oxen. 
They were browsing upon the grass, and all unconscious oi 
our presence, until “crack” went our two rifles at the same in- 
stant, and two of the foremost bulls commenced to stagger and 
tear madly about, whilst the others were thrown into wild con- 
fusion and galloped hither and thither, not knowing which way 
to flee. 
Several more bullets were required to bring the wounded 
bulls to earth, and as we were administering these from our 
concealment, the remainder of the band, seemingly having lo- 
cated us, made a furious charge straight for our position. 
Springing to our feet, for things had now become exciting, we 
met the furies with so deadly a volley that two more were sent 
to earth, and other four so crippled as to check their charge. 
One young one only escaped unhurt, and he was allowed 
to go, whilst we completed our act of slaughter upon the 
_wounded animals. Nor was this easily accomplished, for they 
put up a desperate resistance, making several frenzied charges 
upon us before they were completely overcome. 
One huge old bull seemed to defy the power of my lead in 
a most astonishing manner, for bullet after bullet was sent sing- 
ing through his carcass with apparently little effect, but at 
length he too swayed, staggered, and came to earth. On skin- 
ning and cutting up his carcass, | examined his wounds and 
found that three bullets had pierced his heart before he had 
fallen. 
During the excitement of the battle we had paid little at- 
tention to the movements of our Indians, other than to notice 
that they had kept close to our heels. 
