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Show J6-rtCM CARIBOU WITH HtiC TOPS S p B HE weather seemed Bet fine and I felt so elated with my previous success with the moose that when my hunt- er, Albert, proposed a retreat re-treat up the trail of five miles to a high sugar-loaf mountain on the Tuya mountains, I consented. I meant to take some chances In a second attempt at-tempt to get the big caribou. Soon we reached a point opposite the mountain, moun-tain, and then the hard work began. I drove the horses and the Indians went in front cutting down trees, for we had to force our own trail. Snow was falling when we got into camp, 60 Albert put up his own little tent and alongside it the small shelter shel-ter which he always carried for his four dogs. After supper, having fed the dogs, the trapper sat late over the fire smoking his pipe,-when; looking over his shoulder, he saw an immense wolf standing at his side. As he moved the wolf gripped him firmly by the shoulder, but did not succeed in throwing him down. It might be thought that the dogs which were lying ly-ing on the other side of the fire would have growled and at once attacked the wolf, but this was not the case with the dogs of Cassiar. - On the contrary, they retreated "into their shelter, where they set up a dismal howl of fear. Albert seems to have kept his head with admirable presence of mind, and being unable to reach the ax or rifle, he . grabbed the first weapon that came handiest, namely, a burning brand from the fire. With this he struck the wolf three times lightly on the nose, when it at length let go, and he gave it a stunning crack over the head. The wolf now slunk away. September 20 is one of the red-letter days of my life, so I must give it in full. At dawn we moved our outfit about four miles to the highest clump of wood. The walking for once was easy and firm, and as we forced our way through the last of the willow scrub, one of the finest landscapes in the world was spread before our wondering won-dering eyes. Four thousand feet below be-low was the Tanzilla, lost in great golden splashes of cotton-wood, birch and poplar. Successions of deep green fir woods rolled away to the west as far as the grand canyon of the Stikine, and looking beyond were huge mountains between that river and the Iskoot now covered with deep and permanent snow. It was a glorious day for spying, and on every point of commanding eminenoe we stopped and worked the glass industriously. There were hundreds of likely spots for the great caribou, but not one could we find. "I guess wolves scare him right out of the country," said Albert, as - he closed the glass with an irritable snap. We had now walked about 12 miles, and I was feeling very tired and had an Immense beast he looked, and how keen I should have been to kill him had I not seen something better. ' , Presently another grand stag came by, but I resisted the temptation to shoot and kept my eyes glued on the big fellow who was still lying down. Finally, he arose, surrounded by five large females. I never supposed for an Instant but that he would do aught but follow the others, but' to my great disgust he turned and walked the other way. My heart sank to the depths of despair. Even the phlegmatic phleg-matic Albert fidgeted and almost said something. He kept looking intently at the herd on our left, and I could read his thoughts as he mentally planned a fresh stalk at the main herd. But even to look in that direction direc-tion signified an admission of weakness weak-ness on my part, so I kept the glass glued on the object of my desires till my eyes ached at watching his slow, measured steps. Again and again he stopped and looked back at his late companions, and then my heart sank as each time he dropped his massive horns and followed in the wake of the ladies, who had now commenced to snatch a few mouthfuls of food. But what is this? He has started and is galloping full speed. Has something frightened him or has some fresh bull appeared to excite his jealousy, for he is a master bull without doubt and the rut is near. He rushes beyond the leading doe and then down goes his head. The show of power drives the frightened does together and then back on the trail. They hesitate a moment and then start off at full gallop gal-lop towards us.' What joy! Our luck has turned. Albert's face is a study. He is incredulous and then excited. "They come now," he says to himself. It was a reOmpense for the hardships hard-ships of the journey to see that little troop advancing. I knew they would follow the line of the others and thus pass within easy shot. Moreover, I felt that I had been right to wait, and that pleases any man's vanity. On and on tbey came till the stag began to grow in size 500 yards, 400 yards, 300 yards. Now they stop and smell about the old tracks, for caribou like to follow the exact trail of others of their kind. Then an old hind puts out her neck, cocks her ears and trots slowly down the hill towards our hiding place. Albert worms himseli into a desirable support behind my right shoulder, and all is in readiness for his majesty. The nearer he comes the bigger his horns look and, although al-though not long, they contain a forest of points such as I had never seen before. A merciful Providence causes the bull to stop just where the others had stood, but he is covered by two hinds and I must wait till they have moved. He pokes one gently out of the way and then himself moves forward for-ward a step or two to smell the earth. It is enough; the sight is on his shoulder' shoul-der' and I let go. He swings round once, shaking his head, and then rolls over with all four legs in the air. I give a whoop of triumph, for those great antlers are mine, and I rush down the hill for the possible chance of a long shot at one of the stags on the opposite hill. They are 500 yards away at least, and all jammed together to-gether in a solid pack as a result of the shot. A little forest of antlers stands out above a darkness of bodies. It is hopeless to fire, as the stags are all at the back, and I must wait till they string out and run. Now they are off. tearing over the hills in a mad race. One stag shows to the right on the skyline and I salute him with two shots. But it is hopeless, as I cannot see the striking point of the bullets. A loud call on the part of Albert now directs my attention to the stag I had shot, and I see him struggling to regain re-gain his feet, so I at once place a bullet bul-let through the lungs, which produces immediate collapse. The first shot, it seems, had gone a little to high and too far forward, between the neck and shoulder. I have killed many fln stags in other lands, but I shall always remember remem-ber that day on the glorious Tuya mountains when a little self-restraint met with a result" equal to one's highest high-est hopes. J. G. MILLAIS. great difficulty in breathing in the rarefied atmosphere. "We will just look this last valley," 6ald Albert, moving to the left. I searched with the glass and then gave It to Albert, who had hardly placed It to his eye when he dropped it, excitedly exclaiming: "Caribou! plenty big bulls!" I tore the telescope from his hand and, looking In the direction he pointed, saw a herd of over 50 caribou, cari-bou, Including at least 12 "bulls. Our first move was to descend into the valley and hide the horse. The wind was blowing directly in our faces, so that all went well until we reached the last stick of cover. From this point we had a fine view of the caribou, many of which had by this time risen to their feet and were descending the hill. They stopped frequently to feed, and it was fully half an hour before the firBt stag, accompanied ac-companied by two or three hinds, stood opposite our hiding place. What |
