ACROSS THE SUB-ARCTICS OF CANADA 



The country here was a vast and dreary plain, affording no 

 cover for the hunter save that of a few scattered boulders. 

 Concealed by some of these, we crept for long distances, but 

 finding it impossible to get within any kind of medium 

 range, we opened fire at a distance of four or five hundred 

 yards. At first the deer trotted about in confusion, but soon 

 locating their enemies, they fled straight away across the 

 plains. For several hours we followed, vainly seeking for 

 opportunity of nearer approach, but being unsuccessful, 

 retraced our weary steps to the shore, where we arrived faint 

 and exhausted. We found the men had been unable to keep 

 the canoes afloat because of the ebbing tide. They were now 

 high and dry, and the water of the bay barely visible in the 

 distance — such was the extremely low and flat character of 

 the coast. 



EXPLORING RANKIN INLET, HUDSON BAY. 



176 



