416 



RECREATION. 



as we were out for bigger game aud could 

 not afford to spend ammunition on birds. 

 We traveled along the ridge parallel with 

 our creek, meaning to go around the head 

 of it and return on the other side. The 

 ground was firm and generally covered 

 with lichens, wild flowers and a plant 

 bearing small red berries somewhat like 

 cranberries. Forget-me-nots were plentiful. 

 Everywhere we saw the peculiar foot- 

 prints of caribou, and kept a sharp look- 

 out for these animals, but without avail. 

 At length we reached a peak opposite the 

 head of the creek, and started down to 



slowly along the side of the ridge to which 

 we were headed, taking a mouthful here 

 and there, and apparently unaware of our 

 presence. Soon he lay down and I ducked 

 behind the rocks. We had by that time 

 recognized the animal as a caribou, and we 

 conspired for his capture. 



About half way to him there was another 

 outcrop of country rock, but we could not 

 see our way clear to getting behind it as 

 the ground was too open ; and it would be a 

 long shot anyhow. To the right was a hill, 

 so backing away to lower ground we went 

 around the hill and down into the timber of 



AMATEUR PHOTO BY G;0. G, CANTWELL. 



AFTER LUNCH WE MET OUR FIRST PTARMIGAN, 



cross the saddle connecting with the oppo- 

 site ridge about a mile away. This wind- 

 swept saddle hung in a gentle curve like a 

 slack rope from ridge to ridge, and was 

 totally devoid of cover on our side, the 

 vegetation having a yellowish cast. I was 

 about 400 yards in advance of George, and 

 a little way up the opposite slope I sat 

 down on a pile of rock to wait for him. 

 Just as he joined me he exclaimed suddenly 

 in the most excited manner, 



" Coom awa doon off thot rock, mon ! 

 Coom doon! Luk at that moose! Kip 

 quiet! Sit still! Coom doon, mon! Coom 

 doon!" 



I kept cool, however, and obeying his 

 third injunction, I saw a moose walking 



the gulch beyond it, which we had observed 

 to lead directly to the game. Coming up the 

 gulch we could see him lying in the same 

 place, and kept behind the trees until they 

 thinned out so we had to go on hands and 

 knees through the hardhack. As we were 

 crawling along we crossed a huge bear 

 track, and quite fresh; but we had plenty 

 of that kind of meat in camp, and kept on. 

 When we got within about 200 yards of 

 our quarry, some rising ground favored us 

 and we stood up to rest our knees. 



Sneaking along quietly, we got within 

 about fifty yards, but the rising ground had 

 become steep, and we were in a quandary. 

 After further consultation, we decided to 

 rush him, and up we went, puffing like lo- 



