156 
The morning of our first real hunting-day 
broke fine, so, breakfast over, each of the 
boys took his rifle and struck out, I alone 
staying at camp, cutting wood and stowing 
it under a lean-to at the cabin. The hunters 
returned to camp in good timé, bringing in 
a nice deer to add to our larder. 
Our next move was to a place called 
Blue Knob, where we camped for two days, 
hunting for caribou. We saw lots of fresh 
sign, but could not run onto the game, as 
they would scent us and make for the 
tirnber before we knew of their presence. 
So we decided to move to our most lucky 
camp, at Rainy River Gulch, where we were 
positive of success. Arrived at this camping 
place, we immediately saw there were 
caribou about and plenty of them. ‘We 
made camp and struck off hunting. Guy 
and I went together, the others taking a 
different direction. 
By and by we struck very fresh caribou 
tracks and came to the conclusion that the 
animals were not far off. The trail led us 
up over a hill overlooking a large meadow. 
Here we sat down to reconnoitre. 
““Say!’’ suddenly exclaimed my com- 
panion, ‘‘can you make out if that thing is 
moving down there under that clump of 
trees ? By Jove, itis! Look over beyond and 
see the rest coming out of the brush into 
the meadow!” 
We got the direction of the wind, so as to 
get on the right side of the caribou, and 
started down after them, through the timber. 
Very quietly we went, as they are sharp 
animals and quick to scent an enemy. We 
got down to the edge of the meadow and, 
still in the timber, we stopped to look for 
the game. | 
We could see the horns of one, just 
over a knoll, so we had todo some fine 
stalking to get near them. We crawled on 
our hands and knees, keeping the knoll 
between us and them, and managed to 
crawl right on top of the knoll. We looked 
RECREATION 
down on a herd of fifteen fine caribou, not 
more than a hundred yards away, without 
their scenting or seeing us. Imagine our 
position, lying face down in the light snow, 
almost afraid to breathe, for fear they 
should see us, and no camera on hand, for I 
had left mine at camp, as I had a heavy 
pack without it. We had been then only a 
few seconds, although it seemed longer, 
when up went one head, scenting the air. 
The animal gave a snort, which put them 
all on the jump in a jiffy. Away they went, 
but knowing their habits we were sure they 
would stop and look around before they 
made off for good. We got ready, so as to 
have a bead when they stopped. 
‘You take the one in the middle and Ill 
take the one on the left,” said my partner, 
when they slowed up. The words were no 
sooner out of his mouth when ‘Crack! 
crack !’”’ went the rifles and down came two 
fine young bulls. 
After looking over our prizes we started | 
for camp, with the intention of rubbing it 
into the others. But we did not have this 
pleasure, for they had been quite lucky 
also, securing four out of a band of twelve. 
We made supper and talked the thing over, 
and decided to make for home next day 
with our game. . 
We packed the caribou on the horses 
whole, as they would set and ride better. 
Then we bid good-by to the gulch and 
pulled out for home, arriving there in good 
shape on November 13. 
The five of us got six bull caribou and 
every head a good one. When one considers 
the leisurely manner in which we hunted, we 
not being pushed for time and having no 
guides’ wages to pay, and not to mention the 
three deer and the fact that we had all the 
grouse and trout we could eat, this looks 
like a pretty satisfactory trip. And yet, 
when I told Guy I was going to write it up 
he said, ‘‘ You’d better wait till you’ve got 
something to tell.”’ 


