CHAPTER XXXVII 



FACING HOMEWARD 



On this hill we divided, Preble and Billy going north- 

 ward; Weeso and I eastward, all intent on finding a 

 herd of Musk-ox; for this was the beginning of their 

 range. There was one continual surprise as we jour- 

 neyed — the willows that were mere twigs on Aylmer 

 Lake increased in size and were now plentiful and as 

 high as our heads, with stems two or three inches 

 thick. This was due partly to the decreased altitude 

 and partly to removal from the broad, cold sheet of 

 Aylmer, which, with its July ice, must tend to lower 

 the summer temperature. 



For a long time we tramped eastward, among hills 

 and meadows, with Caribou. Then, at length, turned 

 south again and, after a 20-mile tramp, arrived in camp 

 at 6.35, having seen no sign whatever of Musk-ox, al- 

 though this is the region where Pike found them com- 

 mon; on July 1, 1890, at the little lake where we 

 lunched, his party killed seven out of a considerable 

 band. 



At 9.30 that night Preble and Billy returned. They 

 had been over Icy River, easily recognised by the thick 

 ice still on its expansions, and on to Musk-ox Lake, 

 without seeing any fresh tracks of a Musk-ox. As 

 they came into camp a White Wolf sneaked away. 



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