HUNTING THE MUSK-OX 



suspected of being musk-oxen, though up to this time none 

 had been seen by us, nor did we consider that we were as yet 

 within their range. 



However, since at our camp in the valley we had not a 

 pound of fresh meat, and nine men were depending upon us 

 for food, it was most naturally resolved that a hunt was in 

 order; so a hasty return was made to our tents, where we 

 found the place as still as death, all of the men being either 

 asleep or away. 



After a brief consultation it was decided not to arouse 

 other members of our party. Providing ourselves with two 

 Winchesters and ammunition, we descended to the shore, 

 where our canoes were drawn up on the sand. As we were 

 in the act of launching one of them, two of our Indians 

 approached from the camp, and, guessing our object without 

 a query, volunteered to accompany us. 



In a moment the canoe was launched, my friend and I 

 taking our positions in the middle, whilst the Indians occu- 

 pied bow and stem. 



The hour was now about 11 p.m., but the night was glor- 

 iously bright and the lake like a mirror of silver. I indicated 

 the direction to take, and we glided away silently on the 

 shimmering surface. The firmament above us was aglow with 

 ruddy light, whilst bright streamers radiated from the north- 

 em horizon, where the sunken sun was barely hidden by the 

 dark outline of the distant hills. The scene and experience 

 of that hour were indeed glorious and shall never be erased 

 from my memory. But soon we neared the farther shore of 

 the lake and approached the land under the shadow of a con- 

 spicuous bluff, near the opposite side of which we had dis- 

 cerned the moving objects. 



In perfect silence our canoe was drawn ashore at the base 

 of the blufF, and, having marked our ground as we approached, 

 my companion and I selected a little gully, or waterway, on 

 the side of the bluff as the l^est place for our ascent. The 



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