CARIBOO HUNTING; OR, A SPORTING RAMBLE IN NEW BRUNSWICK. BY A SUBALTERN. (Concluded.) The following morning, shortly after dawn, Poulcis proposed that we should go and look for cariboo in a plain distant about a mile from us to the S. West, leaving Lolah in the camp to get breakfast ready by our return. Loading our guns, accordingly, with great care, we sallied out after our guide, who led us through a thick wood for some distance, and then through a tract of burnt trees, the fallen branches of which, laying interlaced with each other at two or three feet from the ground, formed an abattis almost impassable. G. and myself wearing thick shoes were in danger of falling at every step, but the old Indian, his moccasined feet clinging firmly to the trees, hardly checked his pace, striding on apparently heedless of what our sufferings or progress might be, exciting at the same time not a little ire on our part at the cavalier way in which he seemed to treat us, who were, for the time being (at least), his nominal lords and masters. This indifference I have since observed is a characteristic of the whole race, and in various expeditions with them I have taken notice of the unwillingness of an Indian to turn even his head to look after those who followed in his track. Having at length got through our tight-rope work, for to nothing else can I compare it, we entered a mossy plain, scattered over which were a few stunted firs and spruce trees; this Louis, who, leaning on his gun, stood coolly awaiting our coming up, informed us was a cariboo plain, and the tracks crossing it in all directions sufficiently attested the neighbourhood of the rein-deer. The Indian, meanwhile, having carefully examined the ground, fixed upon the "freshest" of the "tracks," and bidding us "walk softly after" him, pursued the trail which, although constantly intersected by countless others, he with wonderful sagacity continued to follow. At this time of the year (September) as well as during the soft snow in the winter (the only seasons for stalking), the utmost caution is necessary in "creeping on" the rein-deer, the slightest noise, the cracking of a branch even, sending them into the depths of the woods. Following, then, our leader in Indian file, stepping in each other's tracks, and walking round the wind to get to leeward of the trail, we silently advanced through the plain. In vain, however, was our woodcraft, and, after a search of about two hours, we began to think of retracing our steps in the direction of the camp. Louis, who till then had been too cautious to trust his voice to the echo of the wood, now told us that we had been close upon a cariboo, as the slight morning frost had not even crusted the edges of his hoof-prints. Still hoping, then, to fall in with our game, he desired me to pursue a separate course, walking towards the sun, which had just began to show its cheering aspect over the trees in the direction of the lake, whilst G. and himself would skirt round the edges of the wood to the south and west, and would meet me on the lake. According to my directions (though not without a secret misgiving about our meeting), I walked slowly towards the east for, perhaps, half a mile, and then stopped to await the arrival of my companions; no signs of them appearing for upwards of an hour, I fired off my gun; nothing, however, came, and although I repeated the signal, the woods alone answered. The fact appeared then plain enough. I had lost myself-an occurrence as easily believed, by those acquainted with American forests-as related. I looked around at the trees, in the hope that by climbing one of them I might obtain a glimpse of the lake; the fire, however, which had years before laid low the forest, had consumed all the lower branches of the trees yet standing, and it would have puzzled even a lucipee* to have mounted. Finding that idea futile, and in no very enviable mood, I sat down on a log, there to wait the chance of being found by my companions; tired out at last-the unpleasant reflections with which I had been absorbed probably tending to spin out my watching-I resolved to make an attempt myself to find the lake, which the fear of going further from my object had hitherto prevented my attempting; accordingly, once more awakening the woods with my gun, I plunged into the forest in the supposed line of Lake George; but in that country, from the many obstacles intervening, a tree for instance at every step, it may easily be supposed that to preserve a straight course is a matter of no trifling difficulty to one unacquainted with the woods and unprovided with a compass. Luckily, however, I was spared the necessity of trusting myself far without a guide; for ten minutes, I should think, had hardly elapsed, when the crashing of branches followed by a halloo attracted my attention; looking closely in the direction of the welcome sound, I discerned Lolah, who, having heard my shots and guessing the cause, had left the camp. I need not say how glad I was to receive his guidance back to our abode, and there, being shortly after joined by G. and Poulcis, we proceeded to the dispatch of breakfast. They had seen nothing, though they had come upon very fresh tracks, and were returning home when, the report of my gun being twice heard, G. proposed to go and look for me, to which Poulcis, after much difficulty, assented, his habits or, as Cooper would say * Lorp Cervier (Lynx), pronounced by the settlers, Lucipee. his "gifts" not allowing him to conceive the possibility of my being lost in so short a time. As Campbell says "For dauntless he nor chart nor journey's plan In woods required, whose trained eye was keen His path by mountain, swamp, or deep ravine, Or ken far friendly camps on good savannahs green." The plains of Lake George not having rewarded our exertions, it was resolved unanimously to make for the grand hunting grounds on the Magaaguadavic, and accordingly quickly divesting our camp of its late comfort, we began to reship the various articles of baggage belonging to us. While thus employed, the noisy clamours of a loon (the great northern diver) excited our notice, and young Lolah, going to the edge of the lake and concealing himself behind a tree, by slowly waving his hat brought the unwary bird within shot, but whether from too great anxiety on my part to secure him, or from its expertness in ducking at the flash, he escaped without mortal injury though struck in several places; this fine bird is of a very solitary disposition, more than a pair being rarely seen on the same piece of water. Our canoe being now loaded, we once more ploughed the waters of Lake George in the direction of the head where a small stream connected it with that of Magaaguadavic. Having reached this point, a portage of five miles lay before us; the canoe, relieved of its freight, live as well as inanimate, was apportioned to the shoulders of the brawny Louis. To Lolah were assigned the buffalo skins, blankets, biscuits (some 20 lbs.), the small stock of potatoes, and the paddles. G. strode along with a ponderous carpet bag, containing the ammunition of the expedition, with numerous other requisites; whilst I bent under the weight of a valise, strapped knapsack fashion on my back, and a wallet containing the salt meat, some 16 lbs. We also carried our guns and a camp kettle. Laden as our party was, it became necessary to make frequent halts, perhaps every half mile: indeed, how Poulcis the elder-his head and shoulders buried in the cumbrous machine which he boremanaged to thread his devious way through the thick wood was perfectly marvellous. To my unpractised eyes no path was visible, but Lolah, who led, would occasionally point out the mark of the axe upon a tree, calling out "Indian blaize." After a fatiguing walk of upwards of two hours, during which we had seen no living thing but a brace of partridges, which, loaded as we were, we could not follow, the welcome sight of water glistening through the trees proclaimed the termination of our day's march. On arriving at the water's edge we found that we had come out on a creek, the lake beyond being almost hidden by the windings of the shore. Close to where we stood we found the remains of a camp, a heap of discoloured ashes marking the spot where once blazed the crackling logs. These indications of the track of man, serve to break the otherwise monotonous journeyings in the forests of America; on that spot perhaps, one would fancy, some lone Indian last spent his solitary night, returning with a few skins, the produce of his traps, or loaded with the more profitable prize of a cariboo. Before embarking, one of the Indians went off to visit some traps, set some time previously for musquash, and returned in a short time with two skins. Evening now beginning to deepen the wonted gloom of the woods, we lost no time in setting out for the ground of our intended bivouac. Emerging then from the narrow creek, we paddled across the large Magaaguadavic, or as it is called by the Indians, North East Lake. Separated from this by a strip of land, varying from one-quarter to three-quarters of a mile in breadth, is another lake of small size. Upon this narrow tract of wood it was determined to erect our camp, and ere long we had completed, not only a comfortable, but a very picturesque abode. The fatigues of the day, followed by a substantial meal, soon put us on good terms with "Nature's sweet restorer," and we did not quit her embrace until old Poulcis, calling out about dawn, "time to go look for cariboo, before sun, best time," admonished us to rise. This, after sundry growls on our side, being accomplished, and a start made for the shore of the smaller lake, we soon found ourselves seated in the canoe which had been transported the previous night across the slip of land on which we had bivouacked. A heavy mist hung over the lake as we silently paddled across its tranquil surface, which not a breath disturbed; its sole tenants being a few flocks of ducks, which, in pursuit of nobler game, we left unharmed. The shore that we approached, as the mist cleared off, gradually unfolded itself, appearing almost void of trees -a few stunted shrubs hardly claiming that title. It was covered with heath and moss, and looked certainly a most eligible retreat for our intended game. As we neared it, the greatest caution was observed, the paddles hardly ruffling the water as they were adroitly and silently turned in the practised hands of the Milicetes. Occasionally Lolah, who sat in the bow, would rise to his feet and scan with careful eye the whole shore, and then dropping without effort into his former position, resume his paddle. At length, after a minute survey, addressing his father in his own dialect, he told him that he could "see cariboo far back in the plain." Louis, upon this, desired us to take off our hats, and then guiding the canoe under cover of some tall heather which nearly reached the water's edge, both Indians rose and scrutinized the surrounding ground, which, as at lake George, appeared scored in all directions by the tracks of reindeer. The result of this reconnoissance was, however, unsatisfactory, both sinking down into the canoe with an expression of disappointment. We gathered from them that no animal was now visible, the one just seen having probably entered the woods which bounded the plain on one side. It was in consequence agreed that the elder Poulcis and G. should land, and cautiously follow the traces of the cariboo that Lolah had discovered, while the latter and myself should pursue our way in the canoe to the end of the lake, where a small and retired plain was likely to contain some of our intended prey; wither accordingly we bent our way, needing all our philosophy to withstand the temptation * Musk rat. of firing at the numerous ducks, as, disturbed by the unwonted intrusion of our canoe into their sequestered haunts, they flew before us. As such an attempt would, however, have at once destroyed all prospect of deer-stalking for that day, we contented ourselves with the idea of giving them some volleys on our return. Paddling for about a mile and a half, we at last approached the outlet of the lake, and where the Magaaguadavic river, emptying into the bay of Fundy, takes its rise. The lake here presented a scene of much beauty-its banks, hitherto tame and flat, were in this part crowned with swelling hills, on which trees of various kinds, all glowing in the bright and gorgeous clothing of an American autumn, afforded an assemblage of the most rich and luxuriant tints that it is possible to conceive; while rivalling even these in the intensity of its hue, rose the deep blue "arch of heaven," which gradually blended itself with the mass of wood beyond, seemingly interminable as the boundless ocean. Passing under these wooded heights Lolah suddenly shot our little vessel into the shore, and telling me to land, as we were now at the beginning of the small plain, stepped forward, dodging as he went from tree to tree so as entirely to conceal his approach. I followed close upon his track, endeavouring to imitate his movements; but as it was my first essay in deer-stalking, I was probably not very successful. We had advanced but a short distance into the plain, when Lolah turning round and beckoning me to advance, pointed out the welcome sight of two or three cariboo quietly browsing, at, perhaps, not more than 150 yards from us. At this distance, hitting one with a ball from a smooth bore was a matter of great uncertainty, and with this fact I endeavoured to impress my companion, but the strong nervous excitement under which he laboured rendered him indifferent or inattentive to my caution. At last with great difficulty I prevailed on him to advance with me, and we neared our quarry by perhaps twenty-five yards. I was even in hopes of getting within sure range, when the cracking of a spruce branch under my unpractised foot caused the nearest animal to raise its head and look earnestly in the direction of the noise; had we then-partly covered by a shrub as we were-remained perfectly still, success, I doubt not, woull have at last rewarded our perseverance, but the impatience of the Indian mastered all control, and in spite of my earnest, though low-toned remonstrances, he fired, and as I expected, missed. Away bounded the noble buck (or bull, as the Indians would call it), followed imediately after by the females, and by another which we had not before seen. A shot from my gun was in vain dispatched after them, and, disappointed, and annoyed, we slowly retraced our steps to the canoe. All chance of finding any more cariboo that morning being over, I changed my bullets for a charge of duck shot, and on our voyage back, as the incautious flocks, emboldened by their former impunity, hovered round us, I managed to bring down two or three of their numbers. On examining the dead birds, I found them of a different genus to any I had before met with having saw-bills. Lolah told me that they were on their flight from the St. Laurence to the bay of Fundy, down the Magaaguadaoic river-the beginning of the frost, probably inducing them to choose a more southern spot |