ACEOSS THE SUB-AKCTICS OF CANADA 



our enemy to the extreme, for, sizing up his position and evi- 

 dently not wishing to take chances in the lake, he wheeled 

 about and faced our line. For a moment, with lowered head 

 and with fury glaring from his protruding eye-balls, he stood 

 at bay, and then like a rocket sped straight for the centre of 

 our line, where stood Mr. F. with his camera. 



A less ferocious-looking object approaching in so precipi- 

 tate a manner would have been sufficient to cause most indi- 

 viduals to take to the woods, had there been any available, 

 but not so with my friend, who posed like a target until at 

 fifteen feet he snapped the flying animal and sprang to one 

 side only in time to preserve his anatomy. Our project had 

 failed, so far as effecting the capture of the musk-ox was con- 

 cerned, for he was now gone, but it had proved a huge suc- 

 cess as a source of entertainment ; nor was the play yet ended. 

 Stimulated by the excitement of the last encounter, Percy 



and another member of the party snatched their rifles 



and set off in pursuit of the ox, which exhibited an inclina- 

 tion to return to the place where he had lost his comrades. 

 Several rifle shots were heard in the distance, and after a 

 short time Percy's companion returned. Other shots were 

 again heard in closer proximity and quick succession, and 

 upon ascending the bluff I witnessed one of the most enter- 

 taining episodes I have ever seen. There on the farther side 

 of the hill were Percy and the musk-ox in hot chase of each 

 other around a huge boulder, the former calling excitedly for 

 someone to bring him more cartridges. Believing my friend 

 to be in no great danger, I instead ran for my camera, hoping 

 to procure a snapshot of the scene, which I did, though im- 

 perfectly, for the hour of night was now 1.30. 



As I approached the combatants, what impressed itself most 

 vividly upon my memory was hearing Percy exclaim, " Get 

 out, you brute!" at the same time bringing his empty rifle 

 with a crash across his adversary's adamantine head, certainly 

 doing no damage, unless to the rifle. 



110 



