THE CARIBOO. 35 
close upon my track, and do not for your life make the 
slightest noise—we are close on them!’ 
“Sabatisie and Howard now slung their snow-shoes 
on their backs: to prevent the crackling of the crust, 
the Indian with his fingers broke the snow before him, 
and placing his foot in the hole he made, quietly ad- 
vanced—Howard putting his in the track the Indian had 
left, I mine in Howard’s. By this means we proceeded 
without the slightest noise; and as our movements were 
simultaneous, we should to a person in front appear as 
one body. Our situation was anything but agreeable, 
up to the waist in snow. The trail became every mo- 
ment more fresh, and the eagle eye of our sagacious 
guide pried far into the depths of the forest in front. 
Suddenly he cast himself at full length on the snow, and 
remained so long in that position that I innocently thrust 
my head out of the line to see what was the matter; but 
the Indian glared at me with anger and contempt, and 
Howard’s sign recalled my senses. In front, the wood 
being quite open, Sabatisie had seen the Cariboo, and 
now made for a large pine to shelter his approach. His 
movements, as he dragged himself along on his belly in 
the snow, were snake-like; and we followed, endeavoring 
as far as possible to imitate his very interesting contor- 
tions. At last I caught sight of the game. They were 
a large herd of 18 or 20—some rubbing the bark from 
the branches—others performing their morning toilet, 
licking their dark-brown, glossy jackets, and combing 
