440 



RECREATION. 



and we tramped on ahead. Tracks were 

 plentiful everywhere along the margin of 

 the river, but we saw no moose. The scen- 

 ery was growing wilder and more beautiful 

 as we pushed farther North, and we thor- 

 oughly enjoyed the new experience, but 

 grew impatient at our slow progress 



When it became evident that the canoes 

 could go no farther unless the Stones were 

 removed to make a channel, it was decided 

 not to dredge the river for the benfit of the 

 Canadian Government, but to send one of 

 the Indians up to the lake to raise the 

 gates of the dam, it they were found shut. 

 Baptiste volunteered for the service, and de- 

 parted early the next morning. He had 

 about 14 miles to cover, and was back at 

 noon. He found the gates shut and raised 



AMATEUR PHOTO BY P. M. BERRY. 



A NEW BRUNSWICK CARIBOU. 



them. Shortly after his return the increase 

 of water reached us. and we went ahead 

 without further trouble, arriving at the dam 

 at Trousers lake on the afternoon of Sat- 

 urday. September 3d. The shoes were re- 

 moved from the canoes, and we were soon 

 speeding over the lake. A number of loons 

 gave us ** the horse laugh *' as we passed, 

 and seemed to deride our hopes of getting 

 large game. 



Trousers lake is a fine sheet of water, 

 resembling in shape the garment so dear to 

 mankind. We went up the right leg. and 

 about 4 p.m. had our tents pitched at the 

 portage to Mud lake. Trout were abun- 

 dant near the camp, and as they took our 

 flies two at a time, we soon obtained what 

 we wanted for supper. The next day, Sun- 



day, we prospected, and were well soaked 

 by a thunderstorm. The shores of Trou- 

 sers lake are rocky and not adapted to 

 moose calling, so we decided to move our 

 camp to a more desirable locality and to 

 divide our forces. 



The lawyer and the business man estab- 

 lished their quarters on the trail between 

 .Mud and Gulquaock lakes, having canoes 

 on both, while the doctor chose another 

 >maller lake, also called Mud. 



Here we hunted diligently for several 

 da\>. arising at 3 o'clock in the morning 

 and retiring at 10 p.m. We had good 

 guides, enthusiastic and untiring, and al- 

 though the bark horn proclaimed to listen- 

 ing bulls all the charms of the female mem- 

 bers of their race, we were unable to make 

 any connection between our rifles and the 

 wandering lords of the forest. In several 

 instances we called them down to the 

 shore, but they were too modest to show 

 themselves. We. however, experienced all 

 the thrilling sensations of sitting in the 

 canoe and hearing their horns rap against 

 the trees as they came tearing down from 

 the ridge of hills and nerving ourselves for 

 shots we never got. If we couldn't have 

 moose we were willing to take something 

 else, and the business man shot a big cari- 

 bou. Of course he wasn't hunting for cari- 

 bou at the time. He went trout fishing that 

 morning, but fortunately took his rifle with 

 him. This fact illustrates his business fore- 

 sight and discloses one of the qualifications 

 that enable him to hold his present position. 



He and John Moulton were coming from 

 the head of Mud lake toward camp when 

 they saw the horns of a caribou flashing in 

 the sunlight half a mile away and coming 

 toward them. Old John seemed to grow 

 10 years younger in a moment, and the 

 canoe fairly flew under the strokes of his 

 strong arms. Mud lake is full of tall grass 

 with a few shallow channels of clear water 

 running, through it. It was down one of 

 these channels that the canoe was speeding. 

 Only the horns of the caribou were visible 

 over the top of the grass. John, with his 

 eyes fixed on those glistening horns, did 

 not remember the shallowness of the water 

 until the canoe struck a mud bank within 

 about 300 yards of the game. " Shoot." he 

 whispered, and the business man began at 

 once to put forth his best goods for the 

 caribou's selection. He had to shoot 

 through the grass and bushes, and guess 

 at the location of the animal's body. At 

 the first shot the caribou stood still. After 

 a few shots without any apparent result. 

 John got the canoe off the mud bank and 

 round a bend in the stream, where the cari- 

 bou's head was visible. The next shot 

 struck just over the right eve. and the cari- 

 bou sank down in his tracks with hardly a 

 struggle. 



On examination it was found that one 



